Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Ardy moved to Glendale, Calif. with his parents as a young child. The middle child, Ardy grew up in Glendale and attended Glendale public schools. Both of his parents worked tirelessly to provide for their children and achieve the American Dream – a good job, a home, and a better future for their kids. Ardy’s father was a pioneer in the field of environmental chemistry working on ways to clean our contaminated air, water and soil.

He worked on Superfund sites throughout California and the U.S. and taught his children that it is our responsibility to take care of our planet so we pass it on to the next generation. His mother worked for over 25 years as a public school teacher in Glendale teaching chemistry and science. She raised Ardy and his two brothers to always appreciate what they had and work hard to ease the burden on those who had less.

As soon as Ardy was able to work he took a minimum wage job working in retail at the Glendale Galleria while attending UCLA full time to complete his B.A. He worked evenings and weekends to help pay for his tuition. While in college, Ardy began volunteering for local campaigns and became a community organizer.

Ardy’s promotion from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Glendale, CA

He worked on voter registration for the elderly, citizens who could not speak English well and younger voters. Fighting to give a voice to underserved groups became a passion for him which sent him on a path to Washington, D.C. where he interned for members of Congress and learned first-hand the importance of having a voice in politics and, most importantly, when and how to use that voice to bring about change.

After working in Washington, Ardy returned to California and worked for a public affairs firm where he met his wife, Courtney. Ardy later worked for the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region where he worked on policy issues related to immigrant rights, voting rights, genocide awareness and prevention and other issues on the local, state and federal levels of government.

Ardy holding his son Armen (2015)

In 2005, Ardy ran for the open Glendale City Clerk seat with the explicit goal of making elections in Glendale more transparent, accessible and secure. The voters of Glendale overwhelmingly voted for him over 8 other candidates making him the youngest person ever elected to a Glendale municipal post in the city’s history. While City Clerk, Ardy was able to continue his formal education, while working full-time, and was accepted to Northwestern University for a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration which he used to learn more about how effective government agencies develop policies and implement best practices across the U.S. Over the years, Ardy has also completed the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program in addition to the Coro Executive Program.  Today, Ardy shares his experiences and knowledge of government in the classroom as a college instructor teaching political science and introduction to government at Glendale Community College.

Ardy, his wife Courtney, and son Armen

As Glendale’s City Clerk, Ardy has worked for almost 15 years focusing on issues of good governance including the use of technology, improved transparency to increase civic engagement, accountability and building greater trust in our democratic systems of government. If elected to City Council, he will continue to fight for these issues including opposing overdevelopment, fighting crime, protecting neighborhoods, improving transportation and traffic planning, demanding more affordable housing, promoting the arts and building more parks and open spaces for families and residents to improve their quality of life in the city we all love.

Ardy lives in Glendale with his wife Courtney who is an educator and administrator.  Courtney went to USC and Ardy is a Bruin but they are still happily married. Their son will have a tough time deciding where to apply to college.

Hello, neighbors! I’m an economics professor and community advocate running for Glendale City Council in the election on March 3. I live in the beautiful Niodrara Historic District just north of Glendale College. I am the proud father of two children ages 28 (middle school teacher) and 24 (graphic designer).

About eight years ago, after a rewarding career in banking and finance–including 12 years in Asia–I decided it was time to give back. So I threw away the steady paycheck and reinvented myself, first as a teacher of history at a private school in China, then as an economics professor at Glendale College, and more recently as an advocate for the environment. I’ve never for one second regretted it.

I have a deep admiration for people from all places and all walks of life. I believe everyone deserves a roof over their head and access to basic education, healthcare, and nutrition. We all are better when the least well off among us are provided for. I also believe we are responsible for leaving behind a healthier and more stable world than the one we inherited.

I’m running for office because I think we can, and must, do better. Whether it’s our impact on the environment, how we handle the forces of development and rising housing costs, or how we treat one another, we need to be self critical and open to new approaches. We have the potential to be among the greatest cities in California, and to lead by example.

I am not running as a stepping stone for another political office, or to further a business career, or to hand out benefits to my friends. I don’t need to do those things. I’m running because I believe this great city needs leaders that have the vision and fortitude to drive change. As someone who has been pushing for change from the outside, I know what that means.

I founded the Glendale Environmental Coalition (GEC) and led our community’s fight to get Glendale to replace a dirty gas plant with renewable energy. After over 1,200 people showed up at three rallies at City Hall, we won – and the city conceded that our modern, clean energy system will save residents $174 million.

I’m a proud Democrat and a member of the American Federation of Teachers. I’m not taking corporate PAC money, fossil fuel money, or money from any company that does not demonstrate the highest standards of sustainability and ethics. I’ve also decided not to take money from property developers. That’s a choice I have made so that when I get into office I will be accountable only to the public. And I’ll get right to work. I’ll be a fighter, and ask the tough questions of City staff and other leaders, just as I have been doing these last couple years on the Grayson power plant fight.

Winning this race is going to be a community effort. I hope you’ll join us!

Always be skeptical when people tell you that the way things are is the way they must be. To illustrate this, I'd like to make a comparison:

Glendale:

Pop: 205,000

GDP: $33B (est.)

Square miles: 30

Electricity: 37% renewable

Iceland:

Pop 360,000

GDP: $19B

Square miles: 39,769

Electricity: 100% renewable

This isn’t a perfect comparison, but I’m hoping to get people thinking about what’s possible. Iceland, despite having a smaller economy and being MUCH less densely populated than Glendale, has a 21st century energy grid and public transit system.

There are some factors that are in Iceland’s favor here: it has some of the most geothermal energy potential of any place on Earth. But Glendale has some of the most solar energy potential of any place on Earth.

As we talk about Glendale’s future, we should look around the world at our neighbors to learn about new ways of serving the public. As someone who has lived in many different places with many different economies, I hope to bring a fresh perspective to City Council.

Independent Small Business Owner

B.A., Towson University

Glendale Fire Fighters Foundation: Greg presently serves as a Director at the foundation. The Glendale Fire Foundation, a California nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization, is committed to being a resource to the needs of the Glendale Fire Department, dedicated to promoting the well-being and safety of our citizens through the support of services, educational programs, projects, and community initiatives.

Planning Commission: Greg is a current Commissioner, and former Chair of Glendale’s Planning Commission. Greg has been serving on the Commission for the past 7 years. 

Salvation Army:  Greg presently serves as the Vice President of the advisory board for the Glendale Salvation Army core.  Greg first got involved with the Glendale Salvation Army as a volunteer.  For over 10 years Greg has helped raise money for the Glendale homeless shelter, children’s programs and the Army’s food pantry. 

Verdugo Workforce Development Board (VWDB):  Greg serves as a Director for the VWDB. VWDB has two primary customers: job seekers and local businesses. Through its service providers, the Verdugo Jobs Center (VJC), the VWDB helps job seekers to find job opportunities and build careers through job training. The VWDB also helps identify business needs and provides direct assistance to businesses that may have workforce needs. For example, The VWDB has won over $5 million in funding to provide retraining for over 2,000 local entertainment workers that were impacted by the advances in digital technology in the entertainment industry.

Glendale Kiwanis: Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Long- time member and former Director, Greg takes pride in the work that Glendale Kiwanis does in the world of charity, with focus on children and youth, elderly, underserved populations, and nonprofit organizations. 

Glendale Chamber of Commerce: A 13 year member and former Director, Greg’s involvement with the Glendale Chamber of Commerce is because of the work that the organization does in promoting small and medium sized businesses in Glendale.

Every resident must be encouraged and motivated to participate and get involved with the City government. Only then we will have a City Hall that is responsive to the the majority of people. GOTV efforts on the part of the City must be continious, and just around election times. 

Born in 1966, Leonard Manoukian and his family immigrated to the United States in 1979 in pursuit of a better life and eventually settled in Glendale in 1986.

Leonard earned his Bachelor Degree from California State University, Northridge, in 1990 and began attending  evening law school classes at the Glendale University College of Law. As he was attending law school, Leonard became a civil servant when he began his employment with the State Compensation Insurance Fund of California. During this period, Leonard was a Unit Commissioner for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 150, and volunteered for community efforts such as the Glendale School Bond Measure “B”. When he graduated from law school, Leonard began working for the State Fund as an attorney and is now an Assistant Chief Counsel, leading a team of workers’ compensation defense attorneys in State Fund’s Glendale office. 

Leonard has been active and involved in Glendale community affairs for many years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America – Verdugo Hills Council for nearly a decade and the Glendale City Planning Commission for 11 years. As a Planning Commissioner, Leonard has played an important role in practically every significant City planning initiative over the last decade. He was the co-chair of the ANCA-Glendale in 2010. He has been a board member of St. Mary’s Chamlian Armenian School and Homenetmen Glendale Chapter, where he has been a member since 1984. Also, Leonard was a member of the Armenia Fund (the Hayastan All-Armenia Fund’s Western USA affiliate) for nearly a decade. Leonard is a member of the Glendale Masonic Lodge #368. Currently, Leonard is a member of the Board of Directors for AYSO Region 88 and serves as a merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of America. 

Leonard is active in the California Democratic Party. He was elected as a party delegate from the 43rd Assembly District in 2016 and was appointed a delegate to the party convention in 2018 by Assembly Member Laura Friedman. Leonard is also the political director of the Southern California Armenian Democrats.

Leonard is married to Marina Manoukian and they have 2 sons, Armand, and Alexander. This year, Armand will be a junior in college, majoring in journalism and Alex will enter his senior year of high school. 

Being involved with many community organizations, particularly his long and effective tenure on the City’s Planning Commission, has led Leonard to connect with countless residents and know what matters most to them. That’s why Leonard has chosen to run for City Council: TO SERVE ALL OF GLENDALE. 

ONE GLENDALE

We are ONE community and we must work together. I have a vision of neighbors who realize that their commonalities far outweigh their differences. With that realization comes inclusivity and a rejection of artificial lines which separate us - whether ethnic, economic, or lines based on gender. We all want the same things for ourselves and our families. We are ONE CITY - ONE COMMUNITY.

DAY-TO-DAY SERVICES; LONG TERM PLANNING

The city MUST ensure high-quality, day-to-day, municipal services but, at the same time, long term planning and investment are crucial. Our city’s long term planning has lagged for far too long and I am committed to paying particular attention to updating it.

DECISIONS THAT MATTER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Sometimes, decisions are made for their symbolic, or political importance, but, even as these decisions make some feel good, they have real consequences and costs for others. I will try to avoid these type of actions but, if they are of real value, I will do everything to mitigate the associated costs. That’s not only fair, it’s the only way where we can have harmony in our city.

William Keshishyan is seeking election to the Glendale City Council on March 3, 2020.  As the youngest candidate to run for office, William looks forward to creating everlasting community-government relationships in the City of Glendale.   

William was born and raised in the North Glendale neighborhood of La Crescenta. Having attended Glendale Schools his entire life, William passed the ranks through Valley View Elementary School, Rosemont Middle School, and Crescenta Valley High School. William furthered his higher education by attending Glendale Community College and continuing at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, graduating with a degree in Real Estate Development and a minor in Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business.

​

Alongside his academic pursuits, William was able to further his childhood dream of creating a business to serve his community. In 2016, William brought his ambitions to fruition; he opened his first business venture, an automotive dealership in the City of Glendale, growing to employ over twenty employees and offering over 250 vehicles in his inventory.

William did not stop there, realizing that with success comes responsibility, he knew that it was never too early or too young to give back to the community he so dearly loved. After years of driving up and down the Glendale Freeway, otherwise known as the CA-2, he partnered with the California Adopt-A-Highway program, where he agreed to sponsor cleanup efforts at four different segments spanning the CA-2 freeway from the La Crescenta terminus to the City of Los Angeles, both ensuring that the freeway would be clean and free of litter at all times, beginning to fulfill his dream of making Glendale a better place for all to live and thrive. 

In 2019, William founded The Dream Alive Foundation. The specific purpose of which was to provide care, kindness and fun for at-risk and underprivileged children by hosting camps, planning activities, and distributing gifts. The Dream Alive Foundation works to enable the hidden talents in every individual, empower those in need, deliver solutions that will reduce inequalities and lead to a more productive life. 

Alongside his business and philanthropic endeavors, William made it a priority to be politically active at local, county and state levels. Throughout the years, his involvement in politics began with political campaigns and his desire to be more than just a constituent, but rather an active voice. Through this, William was able to fulfil his everlasting passion for learning and growing by developing relationships with political candidates including former Councilmembers, Mayors, Police Chiefs, Assemblymen, and State Senators. William was able to bridge his business and political affiliations, learning from mentors such as former Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, former Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and many other influential figures in the Southern California sphere. 

​

Today, William is prepared to represent you as your next councilman in the City of Glendale as he has excelled in academia, proved successful in establishing and maintaining local businesses and involving himself politically.

As your next councilman, William will ensure that your voices will be heard by integrating new and innovative mediums for communication between you, the people of the great City of Glendale and its governing body. William’s drive will empower him to bring upon sensible solutions to real issues that the people will greatly benefit from.  

Your support and endorsement will get WIlliam elected to the Glendale City Council so he can continue to serve our community to improve the quality of life in Glendale.