Raffi Ghazarian

LA Mayor Villaraigosa Names Armenian Americans to Administration

LOS ANGELES--Newly elected Mayor of the City of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa this week announced appointments of Armenian Americans to one of the city's departments and various commissions. The announcement of Maria Armoudian, Ara Bedrosian, Ed Ebrahimian, and Raffi Ghazarian to the City of Los Angeles' administration came during special remarks the Mayor delivered at the 2005 Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) Annual Banquet.

`There were a great deal of people wanting to be a part of my administration because we said that it would be an administration that would reflect every community in Los Angeles,' said Mayor Villaraigosa during his remarks.

Raffi Ghazarian, who is a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Camp Management Board, Homenetmen `Masis' Chapter's athletic director, and a former longtime AYF member, was appointed to the Los Angeles Children, Youth, and Their Families Commission.

Speaking in front of the over 600 people at the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet, the Mayor emphasized that he made the first appointments of Armenian Americans because they were the best candidates for the chosen roles. The Mayor's appointments are subject to confirmation by the Los Angeles City Council.

Excerpt from: ASBAREZ ONLINE 09/23/2005