California city council member leaves post for Armenian government job

A Glendale, Calif., city council member is taking his talents to another government — this time, on another continent.

Zareh Sinanyan submitted his resignation to the council on June 7, according to Panorama AM. Moving forward, Sinanyan will work for the Armenian government in the newly-created position of high commissioner of diaspora affairs.

In his new role, Sinanyan will serve as a liaison between Armenian communities around the world and the Armenian homeland, according to the Los Angeles Times. Armenians comprise about 30 percent of Glendale’s population, with approximately 200,000 Armenians living in the greater Los Angeles area, the BBC reports.

“Since his election to public office, Sinanyan has ably served all citizens of Glendale and has always maintained open lines of communication with our organization and our community, working together on issues of mutual interest and concern,” said Ronnie Gharibian, Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale Co-Chair, per PanArmenian Net.

“We thank him for his dedicated service and wish him success in his new position in Armenia. We are confident that our relations will continue to grow as he embarks on this new chapter of serving our homeland,” Gharibian continued.

Sinanyan was first elected to the council in 2013, and he was elected to a second term in 2017, Asbarez reports. During his tenure, he served as mayor twice.

Glendale Mayor Are Najarian praised Sinanyan’s work on the council. “Zareh has had a very positive impact on City Council,” Najarian told the Times. “He’s very analytical. He reads the material and understands the issues.”

Glendale’s other four council members can make an appointment to the council to fill the vacant seat, the Times reports. If they fail to do so within 30 days, members must hold a special election that would likely occur in November. No decision has been made yet.