Ara James Najarian (born September 11, 1960) is an American attorney, former city council member, and four-time Mayor of Glendale, California. [5] As an Armenian-American politician, he has advocated measures to better represent and integrate the diverse Armenian community in Glendale, which is now one of the largest in the world outside Armenia.[6] In 2010, he was invited to meet with the president and prime minister of Armenia during a visit there.[7] More recently, he has expressed support for strengthening ties with the "new Armenia" following the Velvet Revolution in spring 2018.[8]
Ara Najarian | |
|---|---|
 Ara J. Najarian | |
| Mayor of Glendale, California | |
| In office April 2019 – April 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Zareh Sinanyan |
| Succeeded by | Vrej Agajanian |
| In office April 2015 – April 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Zareh Sinanyan |
| Succeeded by | Paula Devine |
| In office April 2010 – April 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Quintero |
| Succeeded by | Laura Friedman |
| In office April 2007 – April 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Dave Weaver |
| Succeeded by | John Drayman |
| Member of the Glendale City Council | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11, 1960[3][2] Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.[3][2] |
| Political party | Republican[4] |
| Spouse | Palmira Perez[4] |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Glendale, California |
| Education | Occidental College (AB) University of Southern California School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Early life and education
editNajarian was born and raised in Ohio.[9] His parents, Vardges and Mary Najarian, are physicians and philanthropists.[10] He attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania for two years after being recruited to play on their football team.[11]
He moved to Glendale during in 1980 when his parents moved there,[9][11] transferring to Occidental College, where he overlapped with Barack Obama.[12][11] Najarian graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1982, and completed his Juris Doctor degree at USC Gould School of Law in Los Angeles in 1985.[11]
Legal career
editHe served as a law clerk in the Narcotics Section and Glendale Branch Office of the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office from 1983 to 1984.[3] From 1988 to 1998, he was a partner with the law firm of Najarian and Virgilo in Glendale, California.[3] Since 1998, he has operated his own law firm located in Glendale.[3] Since 1992, he has served as a Judge Pro Term for the Los Angeles Superior Court and the Glendale Superior Court.[3] He also is an arbitrator and aettlement officer for both courts.[3]
Public service
editPre-political career
editFrom 1996 to 2002, he served as a commissioner on the Glendale Transportation and Parking Commission.[3] He served as chairman of the commission from 2000 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2003.[3] From 1998 to 2005, he served on Glendale's Short Range Transit Plan, Circulation Element, and San Fernando Road Corridor Zoning committees.[3]
Political career
editHe has served on the Glendale City Council since April 2005. He served as Mayor of Glendale from 2007 to 2008, 2010 to 2011, 2015 to 2016, and 2019 to 2020.[13]
Najarian lost his 2016 primary race running for Board of County Supervisors during which he had the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters.[14]
Community service
editHe is a member of the board of directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He served as chairman of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency from 2009 to 2010. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Southern California Regional Railroad Authority (Metrolink) since 2006.[13] He served as chairman of the Glendale Housing Authority from 2012 to 2013,[13] chairman of the Glendale Redevelopment Agency from 2009 to 2010,[13] and chairman of the Glendale Transportation and Parking Commission.[13] He is a member, vice chairman and former chairman of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments.[13] He is a member and former chairman (2010-2011) of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board of directors.[13]
He served on the Glendale Community College's board of trustees from 2003 to 2005.[13]
Since 1984, he has served as the director of Medical Outreach for Armenians, Inc.[3]
Since 2003, he has served on the Holy Family High School's board of regents.[3]
Personal life
editNajarian is married to Latina news anchor and reporter Palmira Perez.[15] He has two children.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Ara James Najarian Profile | Glendale, CA Lawyer | Martindale.com". www.martindale.com.
- ^ a b c Ohio Birth Index Records, 1908-2011
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Resume Bio" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 10, 2019.
- ^ a b c "About Ara". Archived from the original on October 3, 2019.
- ^ "Ara Najarian elected Mayor of Glendale". Armenpress. April 3, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Covarrubias, Amanda (August 8, 2005). "Armenians Lead a Changing Glendale". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Hicken, Melanie (July 13, 2010). "Najarian gets presidential welcome in Armenia". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Paitjan, Ani (July 8, 2019). "Mayor of Glendale Says Diaspora is Inspired by "New Armenia"". CivilNet. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Councilmember Ara Najarian Suing City of Glendale, Alleging Violation of Constitutional Rights". The Armenian Report. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "Prime Minister receives philanthropist Najarian family members". The Government of the Republic of Armenia. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "About Ara Najarian". Law Offices of Ara Najarian. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "Ara Najarian – Barack Obama's Classmate". Armenpress. July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mayor Ara Najarian | City of Glendale, CA". October 3, 2019. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019.
- ^ "Close LA County supervisor race a 'coin toss' in June 7 primary". www.dailynews.com/2016/05/27/close-la-county-supervisor-race-a-coin-toss-in-june-7-primary/. May 27, 2016.
- ^ Seidman, Lila (September 18, 2019). "Glendale mayor suggests HOA, already under fire, discriminated against his Latina wife". Glendale News-Press. Retrieved July 18, 2024.