A MESSAGE FROM ARDY KASSAKHIAN ABOUT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES IN THE MARCH GLENDALE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Many years ago, when I was getting ready for my first campaign, my father – an environmental scientist by training but a lover of literature at heart – shared with me a piece of advice he thought would be useful in the rough-and-tumble political arena. He handed me a quote from Elbert Hubbard, an American writer, philosopher and artist. The quote read “Never explain―your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.” I’ve taken these words to mean that whatever I do, however I live my life, that the loudest response to any criticism will be my actions and behavior despite the fact that there will inevitably be those who try to twist words, misinterpret deeds and try to use the moment to their own advantage. For over 15 years these words have served me well as I have served the people of Glendale as their elected City Clerk.
Recently however, during the 2020 Glendale Municipal Election, a few individuals have decided to seize the moment for their own personal gain and attack my reputation and integrity. So, I have decided that despite my father’s advice, it is time to set the record straight so that my friends and supporters can have the answers they need to counter those individuals who are trying to tear our grassroots movement down to desperately seek a narrow advantage. Given all the rhetoric aimed at dividing our community I can’t sit back quietly anymore. So, here is the straight talk from me and in my own words.
First of all, I need to reiterate a few points that most people that know me, don’t need to hear, but I will do regardless.
I am the product of Glendale’s public schools and the son of a retired public-school teacher and a proud member of the Glendale Teacher’s Association. I find it strange and insulting that anyone would suggest that I have any ties to any Charter School groups. For those who seek to make a connection between me and any such groups, I will remind them that in 2016, when I ran for State Assembly in the 43rd District, the California Charter School Association was so convinced of how pro-public education I was, that they decided to fund an Independent Expenditure against me in the millions of dollars. They did so while attacking my integrity and reputation and twisting facts just as some try to do today. My family and I had to endure this for an entire election cycle. But we persisted in our efforts. We fought through it, never wavered, and although defeated, rose back up with the same messaging, the same principles, and the same beliefs.
Since then, I have not met with, spoken to, or dealt with any Charter School Groups. For anyone to suggest otherwise is disingenuous, divisive, and insulting. The Glendale Teacher’s Association as well as the Glendale Community College Guild both have endorsed me, and stand behind me. They know my beliefs and values, and they know I will always stand with public educators, our public schools and our children and families that count on our schools to provide them an amazing education and opportunities.
Additionally, the “seasoned politicians” making these accusations either are trying to mislead the public or do not understand the laws that govern elections. The misinformation being spread in regard to what an independent expenditure is strikes me as troubling and worries me about our current leadership. An independent expenditure is a body, or committee, that advocates for a candidate or issue, with absolutely zero coordination, consent, or knowledge of said candidate or issue, which in this case means these groups are NOT contributing to my campaign as many of my opponents will try to suggest. Instead it means they are running parallel efforts, that have nothing to do with my campaign -efforts that I vehemently denounce and am in no way associated with. Our campaign has genuine grassroots support evidenced by the fact that we are the only top-tier candidate who has not lent himself or herself any personal money to fund our campaign efforts. We have raised more money than anyone else and that means we have done it by talking to voters and supporters who believe in us and we have done it without any special interest support. Given this wide grassroots network of support we have been able to garner the support and endorsement of almost every single group that has decided to weigh in on this race. We have built a coalition made up of diverse group of organizations, unions, elected officials and community leaders unlike any seen before in a City Council race in our great city. My opponents see our strength and are worried the unity of our community will disrupt the status quo that has taken the voice of the people for granted.
Along these same lines, it’s necessary to now address a similar issue, that of the Chevron and “oil” and their “role” in this election, which is similar to what was discussed above. Again, from a background perspective, my mother was a science teacher who emphasized the importance of fighting the man-made impacts on our planet and the threat of climate change. My father is a retired environmental chemist whose life was focused on finding ways to clean our air and water so it is safe to breathe and drink. While other families took trips to Disneyland, our family visited National Parks across our great nation and learned that it is our duty to take care of our planet and surroundings.
I do not support the fossil fuel industry and have never made any statement or taken action to suggest otherwise. Environmentalism is not something I just picked up one day when I had nothing better to do. I have protested against the fossil fuel industry and off-shore drilling. I may not make public social media posts about the protests I have attended or letters I have written to my elected officials about saving our planet but my commitment to ending our dependence on fossil fuel is not up for debate or question. I have NEVER met with anyone from this company or the oil industry.
Furthermore, there are many people in this race touting their “progressive” backgrounds that want to further substantiate these lies by adding fuel to the fire. The reality is, as a proud Armenian-American, fossil fuels are not the friend, but the enemy of many of the issues that I have dedicated my life to. When Congress was considering the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, it was oil industry lobbyists walking the halls of Congress trying to derail our efforts. Currently, the Republic of Armenia continues to suffer because of oil interests who support neighboring Azerbaijan’s dictatorial regime that kills innocent Armenians in villages and cities in Artsakh. Their military machine is funded by moneys derived from the exploitation of oil reserves in the Caspian Sea. When Senator Anthony Portantino, Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan and I visited Artsakh in September 2018, I met with the brave young men who are serving in the trenches to defend the boarders of their homeland against the forces funded by oil interests. I looked into the eyes of these young men who could have just as easily been my classmates at Glendale High but who were instead rooted to their ancestral land, fighting for life and liberty. I urge these candidates and campaigns to not question my values or principles until they have done a modicum of research on what Armenia and its people have endured because of fossil fuels. It’s insensitive, it’s insulting and it’s divisive. I am a proven, tried and tested enviro-candidate who has campaigned with environmental issues as a primary priority. I have been endorsed by the Sierra Club, as well as the Glendale Environmental Coalition. My stances and opinions on the environment have been clear, consistent, and in writing, not just throughout this campaign, but for many years.
Lastly, I have always spoken against and denounced dark money and independent expenditures. I have advocated for the creation of a City Ethics Commission like other cities have that will not only monitor these expenditures but also the activity of candidates and elected officials who try to mislead the public. I have called for district elections that will empower our citizens instead of vesting the power of writing laws into the hands of the few and the elite.
Our messaging and stance has been clear all along. Our campaign isn’t a campaign that is beholden to special interests; it’s not an opportunistic stepping stone. We didn’t just come out of the woodwork and decide to get involved and run for office because we have nothing better to do. I have been the elected City Clerk of Glendale, CA, our Jewel City, for the past 15 years, and it has been my greatest honor to serve this city that I love and where I plan to live for a long time to come. The time has come to take the next step in that service. As city clerk, I have worked tirelessly to make our city and our elections more inclusive and transparent. I will continue to do that as your next City Councilman. Join our movement, as most of you already have, to bring the changes to City Hall that we all have been waiting for.
Please vote on March 3rd like your City’s future depends on it and I humbly ask for one of your three votes.
My name is Ardy Kassakhian and I approve of this message.
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Paid for by Ardy Kassakhian for City Council 2020 ID #1419692