ANCA-Burbank
75 E. Santa Anita Ave.
Burbank, CA 91502
818/562-1918
contact-Zareh Khachatourian
818/585-9913
PRESS RELEASE
January 15, 2015
Burbank ANCA Issues City Council & School Board Endorsements
Burbank, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Burbank
(ANCA-B) endorses the candidacy of Emily Gabel-Luddy for Burbank City
Council, and Armond Aghakhanian, Steve Ferguson, Vahe Hovanessian, and
Roberta Reynolds for Board of Education in the upcoming February 24
Primary election.
A total of seven candidates are vying for two seats on the Council,
with six other candidates vying for three School Board positions.
Depending on the vote tallies, they could be elected to the position,
or move on to the April 14 General election.
Emily Gabel-Luddy is a one-term incumbent and has supported issues of
concern to the Burbank Armenian community with her votes on the
Council dais, familiarizing herself with many of the current issues
that confront Armenians worldwide.
`We confronted a couple of unusual challenges in working on our
endorsements,’ explained ANCA-B co-chair Gaidzag Shahbazian. `In the
City Council race, it was a straightforward choice to endorse Emily
who has helped our community during her term on Council. We opted not
to endorse another candidate for City Council. In the School Board
race, we had worked with and had endorsed four of the candidates in
prior elections. So, even though there are only three seats up for
election, we are endorsing four candidates and asking our supporters
to choose three of them that they see as the best choices.’
Armond Aghakhanian is himself an ANCA activist, educator, has long
been politically active, and has previously been a candidate for
School Board. He brings the passion of a father who wants great
schools for his child who will soon start attending Burbank schools.
He will serve as a strong voice for the Armenian community’s needs.
Steve Ferguson has been politically active from a very young age, has
previously been a candidate for City Council and School Board, and has
prior campaign experience. He possesses a thorough understanding of
the needs of Burbank’s Armenian community.
Vahe Hovanessian has served on various city committees, has previously
been a candidate for City Council, and is an attorney who grew up in
the Burbank school system and now has a child attending those same
schools. He has been active in Armenian organizations for years.
Roberta Reynolds is a two-term incumbent and pharmacist. Thanks to
her efforts, just this past year, Burbank Unified School district
adopted as one of its goals the inclusion of Genocide instruction in
10th grade world history classes.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Burbank advances the
social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the area’s
Armenian community and promotes its increased civic participation at
the grassroots and public policy levels.
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