Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian Announces Candidacy for Glendale City Council

Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian

Dr. Kaloostian is running for City Council to bring a practical, evidence-based approach to local government, with a central focus on strengthening the health of the City at every level. Her leadership emphasizes listening to residents’ concerns first, identifying root causes, and delivering data-backed global best practices that strengthen public safety, enhance city services, advance walkable streets, and improve urban design to enhance quality of life in Glendale.

Drawing on her experience in systems thinking and public health science, she seeks to connect the City with innovative resources and advanced technologies that support transparent governance, resilient infrastructure, and the long-term safety, health, and well-being of the entire community.

“As a physician, I am trained to listen carefully, evaluate evidence, and make decisions that protect people’s well-being,” said Dr. Kaloostian. “I am running because I believe those same principles should guide our city.”

Her decision to run was shaped by conversations with patients, families, and small business owners who expressed frustration about rising utility bills, housing affordability pressures, and not always feeling informed when policies impact their daily lives. As both a physician and a mother, she understands how deeply these issues affect families.

Public Safety
A proud safety-first candidate, Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian’s top priorities include preserving Glendale’s reputation as one of the safest cities not only in Los Angeles County, but in the nation. She supports this commitment through strong investment in police and fire services, prevention-focused public health and community safety strategies, modern technology and emergency preparedness, safe and walkable streets, and coordinated citywide systems that address root causes before crises occur.

Small Business Support
Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian has pledged to donate her entire Glendale City Council salary to an independent community microfund that will provide renovation and improvement grants to small businesses. She plans to launch a Small Business Health and Stability Initiative aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers, supporting façade improvements, and strengthening Glendale’s commercial corridors. Thriving small businesses are the heartbeat of Glendale’s economic vitality and essential to maintaining vibrant, walkable neighborhoods and a resilient local economy.

Infrastructure & Utilities
Kaloostian proposes to ncreasing oversight and transparency regarding utility costs, infrastructure investments, and long-term planning to ensure responsible stewardship of public resources. Dr. Kaloostian supports increasing the supply of power through technology that turns waste into energy and creating small, local power networks called microgrids that can keep the lights on even if the main power fails. Piezoelectirc energy harvesting can also use sensors built into the ground that turns the pressure from passing vehicles into energy.

Transparency & Accountability
She vows to improve public communication and engagement so that residents impacted by policy decisions are informed and heard early in the process. Governance should feel collaborative, not imposed. As a physician and researcher, Dr. Kaloostian is committed to collecting and analyzing data, presenting multiple viable policy alternatives, and ensuring that residents most directly affected have a meaningful voice in shaping the solutions that are ultimately implemented.

Environmental Sustainability
Kaloostian want to promote practical, fiscally responsible sustainability initiatives that enhance safety, walkability, and community health without increasing unnecessary burdens on residents. This includes strategic planting of pollinator-friendly, native, and non-invasive trees and flowering species that help reduce common air and water pollutants through phytoremediation, as well as implementing permeable alleyway and green infrastructure projects to reduce over-concretization, improve groundwater infiltration, mitigate urban flooding risks, and help prevent long-term soil instability and sinkholes.

Armenian-American Community Priorities
Kaloostian said she is committed to keeping Glendale a safe, family-friendly city while honoring and supporting its vibrant Armenian-American community. She supports cultural preservation through Armenian institutions, schools, and churches, along with the advancement of Armenian history education initiatives, recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and strengthened civic and sister-city partnerships with Armenia. Dr. Kaloostian recognizes the importance of cultural visibility, humanitarian awareness regarding Armenia and Artsakh, and continued civic engagement to ensure Glendale’s Armenian-American community remains a vital part of the City’s identity and long-term prosperity.

In her statement, Kaloostian said her vision is to Heal Glendale Together by strengthening the health of the City body at every level, from public safety and infrastructure to economic vitality, environmental quality, and community well-being. Guided by her medical and public health background, she is committed to transparent, evidence-based leadership that supports safe neighborhoods, walkable streets, health-focused urban design, thriving small businesses, clean air and water, and meaningful civic engagement. By honoring Glendale’s cultural heritage while planning responsibly for the future, Dr. Kaloostian seeks to build a healthier, safer, and more resilient Glendale for generations to come.

Dr. Carolyn Kaloostian, a third-generation Californian, has dedicated her career to turning expertise into action. A board-certified Family and Geriatric Medicine physician, public health leader, and Associate Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, she is running for Glendale City Council to bring practical, results-driven leadership to local government.

UCLA-trained with a Doctorate of Medicine and a Masters in Public Health, Dr. Kaloostian has advanced prevention and community-based health solutions, working alongside the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and helping develop the County’s strategic plan for dementia care through the Healthy Brain Coalition. Through her leadership with the American Heart Association, she received awards for helping train over 250,000 residents in bystander CPR.

Raised in a family rooted in service and educated in Armenian schools, she was inspired by her late mother, one of the first seven students at Ferrahian Armenian School and a founding contributor to the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. She is committed to strengthening Glendale with integrity and collaboration, thoughtfully guiding growth, preserving its historic character, and protecting safety and quality of life.

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