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Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Nov 24 2004
Clerk post up for grabs for first time in 75 years
Ardashes Kassakhian plans run for city clerk position in the first
open race for the job since 1929. Election is in April.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE CITY HALL -- Glendale could have a competitive election in
April to determine the city's chief election official for the first
time in more than 75 years. Now, that race has its first competitor.
Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director of the Armenian National
Committee's Western Region, announced that he will run for City Clerk,
a position that will be vacated in April when Doris Twedt retires at
the end of her term.
"I've always had a passion for public service," Kassakhian, 28, said.
"It's a noble calling. If you really want to be an active citizen and
participant, you have to take on challenges and you have to address
them head on."
Kassakhian should have some competition, although nobody else has
entered the race. Candidates do not have to file any paperwork to
run for City Clerk until January. The job's salary alone -- $105,000
per year, minimum -- will likely draw out candidates to make the
race competitive.
The winner of the election will be the Glendale's first city clerk
to initially take office by election since 1929, when G.E. Chapman
was elected to the post. Ever since, Glendale's city clerk has been
a hand-me-down position, with clerks taking office as a mid-term
replacement appointed by the City Council instead of by election.
The council appointed John Walters in 1959 when Chapman died, and
Walters served until 1971. When he retired, the council appointed
Frank Usher. The cycle continued, with Merle Hagemeyer (appointed in
1976) followed by Aileen Boyle (appointed in 1989) followed by Twedt
(appointed in 2000). During those 75 years, no appointed city clerk
has lost a reelection bid.
By appointing mid-term replacements, the city has avoided politicizing
the position that oversees the city's elections and record-keeping.
"There's a good argument to be made that any political office
overseeing elections should be nonpartisan, and maybe should be
an appointed position rather than beholden to an electorate," said
Tom Hogen-Esch, a political science professor at California State
University Northridge. "The best reason is that there is no appearance
of political motivation behind whatever decision is under scrutiny."
As an officer for the Armenian National Committee, Kassakhian is
a community activist who has lobbied the federal government for
recognition of the Armenian genocide and urged Glendale's Armenian
community to vote.
If elected, he said he would focus on increasing voter turnout and
advancing the technology inside the clerk's office.
"He's a very capable individual, and he knows very well what the
job entails and how to handle it," said Councilman Rafi Manoukian,
who received support from the Armenian National Committee in his
reelection bid.
"Having come from a community activism background, that gives him
better insight into the operations of the city clerk.
"It is incumbent on all individuals who will participate in or be a
candidate for City Clerk to recognize the fact that, although it is
an elected position, it should not be a political thing."
LATimes.com
Nov 24 2004
Clerk post up for grabs for first time in 75 years
Ardashes Kassakhian plans run for city clerk position in the first
open race for the job since 1929. Election is in April.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE CITY HALL -- Glendale could have a competitive election in
April to determine the city's chief election official for the first
time in more than 75 years. Now, that race has its first competitor.
Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director of the Armenian National
Committee's Western Region, announced that he will run for City Clerk,
a position that will be vacated in April when Doris Twedt retires at
the end of her term.
"I've always had a passion for public service," Kassakhian, 28, said.
"It's a noble calling. If you really want to be an active citizen and
participant, you have to take on challenges and you have to address
them head on."
Kassakhian should have some competition, although nobody else has
entered the race. Candidates do not have to file any paperwork to
run for City Clerk until January. The job's salary alone -- $105,000
per year, minimum -- will likely draw out candidates to make the
race competitive.
The winner of the election will be the Glendale's first city clerk
to initially take office by election since 1929, when G.E. Chapman
was elected to the post. Ever since, Glendale's city clerk has been
a hand-me-down position, with clerks taking office as a mid-term
replacement appointed by the City Council instead of by election.
The council appointed John Walters in 1959 when Chapman died, and
Walters served until 1971. When he retired, the council appointed
Frank Usher. The cycle continued, with Merle Hagemeyer (appointed in
1976) followed by Aileen Boyle (appointed in 1989) followed by Twedt
(appointed in 2000). During those 75 years, no appointed city clerk
has lost a reelection bid.
By appointing mid-term replacements, the city has avoided politicizing
the position that oversees the city's elections and record-keeping.
"There's a good argument to be made that any political office
overseeing elections should be nonpartisan, and maybe should be
an appointed position rather than beholden to an electorate," said
Tom Hogen-Esch, a political science professor at California State
University Northridge. "The best reason is that there is no appearance
of political motivation behind whatever decision is under scrutiny."
As an officer for the Armenian National Committee, Kassakhian is
a community activist who has lobbied the federal government for
recognition of the Armenian genocide and urged Glendale's Armenian
community to vote.
If elected, he said he would focus on increasing voter turnout and
advancing the technology inside the clerk's office.
"He's a very capable individual, and he knows very well what the
job entails and how to handle it," said Councilman Rafi Manoukian,
who received support from the Armenian National Committee in his
reelection bid.
"Having come from a community activism background, that gives him
better insight into the operations of the city clerk.
"It is incumbent on all individuals who will participate in or be a
candidate for City Clerk to recognize the fact that, although it is
an elected position, it should not be a political thing."