Dr. Suzie Abajian Seeks Re-election as Glendale City Clerk

It has been a great honor to serve as your elected Glendale City Clerk for the past four years. I am running for re-election to continue the work I have begun in strengthening transparency, accessibility and trust in our local government.

During my first term, I modernized operations, strengthened voter outreach, expanded language access and streamlined public records requests to better serve our community. I also fought for the staffing and resources needed to ensure our office operates effectively and responsibly. In addition, I worked to advance more accurate demographic data collection at the state and federal levels so our city can better understand its residents and make more informed and equitable decisions that serve everyone.

Beyond my core responsibilities, for three years I oversaw the operations of the Commission on the Status of Women in Glendale. In that role, I led the publishing of a historic report on the status of women in our city — bringing forward critical data and insights to inform policy and community action.

As the only certified municipal clerk in this race, I am committed to the highest professional standards in elections administration, records management and open government. I bring independence, sound judgment, integrity and the courage to hold the line when it matters most. As an immigrant and the mother of a young child, I am deeply invested in ensuring that Glendale remains a safe, inclusive and responsive community for everyone.

I will always stand up for transparency and ensure that our public records and elections are handled professionally, impartially and in the best interest of all residents.

I hold a B.A. in mathematics and an M.A. in mathematics education from Occidental College, a Ph.D. in education from UCLA and a California Administrative Credential from UCI.

I am proud to be endorsed by U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman, State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Assemblymembers Nick Schultz, Jessica Caloza and John Harabedian, Glendale Teachers’ Association, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Los Angeles County Democratic Party, National Women’s Political Caucus and many community leaders.

I respectfully ask for your vote. 

www.suzieabajian.com

Suzie Abajian, Ph.D.
Glendale

True – No King in America

The day after the No Kings Rally, Donald Trump was still … President of the Untied States (“No Kings Rally Held at Glendale City Hall,” CVW, April 2).

“America is a democracy, not a dictatorship,” stated organizers from Indivisible, co-sponsor of the March 28 event. “The country does not belong to kings.”

I beg to disagree. America is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. Our last and only monarch was King George III of England, who was cast off after the American Revolution in 1776.

If 8 million protestors took to American streets, please remember that 80 million voters cast their ballots – “non-violently, powerfully and joyfully” to take a page from the rally –in 2024 for Donald Trump, who won the popular vote and the Electoral College. 

Whether you are for or against immigration enforcement, oppose or support the war in Iran, you will still have power and the right to vote for a new President – not a king – in 2028.

Les Hammer
Pasadena

Why the City Clerk Matters More Than You Think

When Glendale voters approved Measure A in 2024, they gave the [Glendale] City Council the power to bypass competitive bidding and select contractors directly. The measure passed with no official opposition statement on the ballot. That silence was not accidental; it was the result of a choice.

The city clerk, an independently elected official, is the gatekeeper of transparency. The clerk administers the California Public Records Act, oversees election outreach and ensures that voters receive balanced information. Yet in the case of Measure A, the clerk declined to seek out a counter‑argument, stating it was “not her role.”

This narrow interpretation of duty left voters with only one side of the story. Without an adversarial perspective, citizens were deprived of the chance to weigh risks: favoritism, loss of accountability and erosion of safeguards in public contracting. The council’s unanimous support and the mayor’s vague assurances were enough to sway the majority but only because no one in an official capacity ensured that dissenting voices were heard.

Electing a city clerk is not a ceremonial choice. It is a decision about whether the public will have a watchdog committed to transparency or a passive administrator who interprets duties minimally. A proactive clerk would have recognized that the absence of opposition undermines democratic reasoning and sought out an independent organization, such as procurement professionals, to provide balance.

Herbert Molano
Glendale

Transparency, Please

I am writing as a concerned voter and GUSD parent. The LA County elections portal recently released the names and qualifications of candidates on the June 2 ballot.

In one Glendale Unified School Board race, Mr. Shant Kevorkian listed his title as “Healthcare Education Professional.” This led me to believe that perhaps he teaches about healthcare. However, on his own campaign site, Kevorkian lists his current job status as “Administrative Resident” at a private hospital and an “MHA candidate at USC.” It’s my understanding that the residency is a required part of the master’s degree program he is in. Why did this candidate not accurately list “Public Health Student” as his current job? This is concerning to me as voters like me deserve honesty from candidates. 

Another second school board candidate, Mr. Greg Krikorian – who lost for city clerk in 2022 after serving over 20 years on GUSD’s board – lists his job title as “Educational Nonprofit President.” I cannot find any nonprofit in any area that has Mr. Krikorian as a president. Nothing appears on his LinkedIn profile and nothing appears on his campaign website. He also seems to imply that he has an MBA from UCLA on his LinkedIn profile, when a cursory Google search shows that he took one course from UCLA Extension in 1996.

Voters deserve accurate ballot information when they sit down to vote in June. While I am disappointed that the county clerk does not vet these statements, I am hoping that this letter will help spread the word to voters.

Joann Lo
La Crescenta/Glendale