The Glendale Burbank/Crescenta Valley Republican Assembly (GBRA) held its annual barbecue on Oct. 10 at the University Club in Pasadena. The luncheon featured fork-tender ribs, pulled chicken, beans, slaw and a dessert muffin. Due to the governor’s current restrictions, the club’s annual summer barbecue was held later in the year and not at its usual venue in La Cañada Flintridge.
GBRA’s program began with an invocation delivered by Allen Brandstater followed by a flag salute given by Sonny Sardo. Prior to the flag salute, the GBRA board honored longtime member and former GBRA president Sardo for his service in Vietnam. Lois Lee Brand Billings, GBRA president, presented Sardo with an Army veteran’s cap, service pins and commemorative medals for his combat awards: two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
Guest speaker Evan Sayet, a well-known conservative author, satirist and comedian, entertained and enlightened the audience whose members showed their appreciation with rounds of chuckles and applause.
A very welcomed surprise visit by well-loved GBRA member Michael Antonovich, former LA County supervisor, brought down the house! Antonovich spoke on several timely topics and shared his personal opinions on politics in California and the country.
The political club’s planned event featured the introduction of several Republican, local, state and national candidates. Most prominent was Eric Early, the Republican candidate running to unseat Congressman Adam Schiff. Early delivered a high-energy speech and interacted with the crowd of enthusiastic supporters.
Current Republican candidates who addressed the crowd and engaged in GBRA’s traditional Q&A included Mike Graves running for State Assembly, 43rd District, Kathleen Torres Hazleton, running for State Senate, 25th District, and Michael Gogin running for a seat on the Burbank City Council.

Submitted by Audri FERGUSON