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VACHE KAHRAMANIAN ANNOUNCES RUN FOR LOCAL AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL
May 8, 2014
Vache Kahramanian
WILLOUGHBY, Australia--Lifelong Willoughby resident, accountant and
human rights lobbyist, Vache Kahramanian has announced that he will
contest the vacant Willoughby City Council seat in the electorate's
Sailors Bay ward.
Kahramanian, 28, aims to bring "fiscal professionalism" and "youthful
dynamism" to Willoughby City Council if elected on Saturday, 14th
June 2014. The election is a by-election for the sole available seat
on Council, which opened up when Councilor Gail Giles-Gidney was
elected Mayor to replace the late Pat Riley.
The Sailors Bay ward encompasses Castlecrag, Northbridge and South
Willoughby; all areas well known to Kahramanian, who said: "Willoughby
is the only City I've known. I was a Willoughby son, a Willoughby
student, a Willoughby professional, and now a Willoughby husband,
a Willoughby ratepayer, a Willoughby shopper and a Willoughby diner."
Kahramanian is a certified practicing accountant (CPA), who has
worked for global firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers and CoverMore
Travel Insurance.
"We have all read about the concerns Willoughby residents have about
the state of the City's finances, especially since the development of
The Concourse," he said. "I, for one, will feel a lot more comfortable
if at least one of my Councilors was an accountant. I intend to be
your fiscal professional in Council."
Kahramanian, who also holds a Graduate Diploma in International Law
and International Relations from the University of New South Wales,
currently heads the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
Australia); an advocacy group that lobbies all levels of government
for its community's local, national and international interests.
"I know how politics works," Kahramanian continued. "I know my way
around the Parliament Houses in Canberra and on Macquarie Street. I
have legislative runs on the board, having led the passage of multiple
motions in the NSW and South Australian governments, among others."
On local issues, Kahramanian said he intends to be a politician in
the word's "purest definition", explaining: "If elected as councilor,
I will always default to what the majority of my constituents demand,
while always trying to represent and incorporate the minority view."
He did outline his positions on key local issues, though.
On rate increases, Kahramanian says: "At my core, I am against
increasing rates, or increases on any types of taxes for that matter.
That is the easy way out. It should always be the very last resort,
and even then, it should be taken to an election."
On traffic congestion and overdevelopment, he says: "Overdevelopment
is unacceptable to me. Willoughby needs to remain pure and only grow
to the extent that its roads and infrastructure allows."
On the Willoughby Leisure Centre, Kahramanian says: "The Willoughby
Leisure Centre is where I learned to swim, and watched many games
of basketball. It is tired and needs to be redeveloped in one swoop,
as quickly as possible."
On the divisive issues surrounding Northbridge Plaza, he says: "The
Northbridge Plaza expansion-slash-carpark situation is problematic. I
understand the corporate realities of operating a mall, while I also
realise that expansion could mean hell for traffic, and hell for
other smaller shopping villages and businesses. The end resolution
must be to the benefit of the community."
And on the unique Haven Amphitheatre, he states: "The Haven
Amphitheatre is an area close to my heart, having performed on that
stage as a student at Willoughby Public School. I'll work with all
stakeholders to find the best solution to ensure that the amphitheatre
is reopened so that generations to come can enjoy this unique space."
Kahramanian also plans to ensure that more of the local community is
able to make use of The Concourse, which is a world class entertainment
venue developed by Council and managed by a private firm.
Kahramanian said: "The Concourse is the greatest infrastructure project
in our great City's recent history, but unfortunately many groups have
been priced out of using this venue. I'll fight to ensure fairer use
of The Concourse for all."
Vache Kahramanian has taken leave from his duties as the Executive
Director of ANC Australia while he runs his Willoughby City Council
campaign.
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/38005
From: A. Papazian
May 8, 2014
Vache Kahramanian
WILLOUGHBY, Australia--Lifelong Willoughby resident, accountant and
human rights lobbyist, Vache Kahramanian has announced that he will
contest the vacant Willoughby City Council seat in the electorate's
Sailors Bay ward.
Kahramanian, 28, aims to bring "fiscal professionalism" and "youthful
dynamism" to Willoughby City Council if elected on Saturday, 14th
June 2014. The election is a by-election for the sole available seat
on Council, which opened up when Councilor Gail Giles-Gidney was
elected Mayor to replace the late Pat Riley.
The Sailors Bay ward encompasses Castlecrag, Northbridge and South
Willoughby; all areas well known to Kahramanian, who said: "Willoughby
is the only City I've known. I was a Willoughby son, a Willoughby
student, a Willoughby professional, and now a Willoughby husband,
a Willoughby ratepayer, a Willoughby shopper and a Willoughby diner."
Kahramanian is a certified practicing accountant (CPA), who has
worked for global firms including PricewaterhouseCoopers and CoverMore
Travel Insurance.
"We have all read about the concerns Willoughby residents have about
the state of the City's finances, especially since the development of
The Concourse," he said. "I, for one, will feel a lot more comfortable
if at least one of my Councilors was an accountant. I intend to be
your fiscal professional in Council."
Kahramanian, who also holds a Graduate Diploma in International Law
and International Relations from the University of New South Wales,
currently heads the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
Australia); an advocacy group that lobbies all levels of government
for its community's local, national and international interests.
"I know how politics works," Kahramanian continued. "I know my way
around the Parliament Houses in Canberra and on Macquarie Street. I
have legislative runs on the board, having led the passage of multiple
motions in the NSW and South Australian governments, among others."
On local issues, Kahramanian said he intends to be a politician in
the word's "purest definition", explaining: "If elected as councilor,
I will always default to what the majority of my constituents demand,
while always trying to represent and incorporate the minority view."
He did outline his positions on key local issues, though.
On rate increases, Kahramanian says: "At my core, I am against
increasing rates, or increases on any types of taxes for that matter.
That is the easy way out. It should always be the very last resort,
and even then, it should be taken to an election."
On traffic congestion and overdevelopment, he says: "Overdevelopment
is unacceptable to me. Willoughby needs to remain pure and only grow
to the extent that its roads and infrastructure allows."
On the Willoughby Leisure Centre, Kahramanian says: "The Willoughby
Leisure Centre is where I learned to swim, and watched many games
of basketball. It is tired and needs to be redeveloped in one swoop,
as quickly as possible."
On the divisive issues surrounding Northbridge Plaza, he says: "The
Northbridge Plaza expansion-slash-carpark situation is problematic. I
understand the corporate realities of operating a mall, while I also
realise that expansion could mean hell for traffic, and hell for
other smaller shopping villages and businesses. The end resolution
must be to the benefit of the community."
And on the unique Haven Amphitheatre, he states: "The Haven
Amphitheatre is an area close to my heart, having performed on that
stage as a student at Willoughby Public School. I'll work with all
stakeholders to find the best solution to ensure that the amphitheatre
is reopened so that generations to come can enjoy this unique space."
Kahramanian also plans to ensure that more of the local community is
able to make use of The Concourse, which is a world class entertainment
venue developed by Council and managed by a private firm.
Kahramanian said: "The Concourse is the greatest infrastructure project
in our great City's recent history, but unfortunately many groups have
been priced out of using this venue. I'll fight to ensure fairer use
of The Concourse for all."
Vache Kahramanian has taken leave from his duties as the Executive
Director of ANC Australia while he runs his Willoughby City Council
campaign.
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/38005
From: A. Papazian