Rafi Manoukian can gain seat in Glendale City Council

PanARMENIAN.Net - Voter turnout in the April 5 election was about 21.6%, with the frontrunner in the Glendale City Council race, Rafi Manoukian, taking 22 of the 57 precincts and a formidable lead that could push one of two incumbents - either Dave Weaver or John Drayman - out of office, according to Glendale News-Press.

The city clerk’s office reported that approximately 3,000 provisional and vote-by-mail ballots still need to be counted. With just 135 votes separating Manoukian and Drayman, whose vote total currently places him in third place, the outcome for the two available seats on the City Council is likely to remain unclear for days.

An analysis of unofficial vote tallies showed Manoukian earned strong backing from absentee voters, much of Northwest Glendale.

Not including the outstanding ballots, voter turnout came in at 22,416, or about 21.6% of registered voters, said City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian.

Manoukian could regain a spot on the council dais four years after losing his seat there, and two years after making an unsuccessful bid for city treasurer.

Perennial City Council candidate Chahe Keuroghelian saw a stronger showing than in past elections Tuesday, garnering 18.1% of the vote, compared to 11.2% in 2009, according to the city clerk’s office. Much of his support came from absentee and South Glendale voters.