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 NORTH
HOLLWOOD–Mary Benson, one of the most respected neighborhood
advocates in the region and a former candidate in the race for
City Council candidate, announced her full endorsement of Paul
Krekorian on Friday.
The announcement of Benson’s support is a
very significant development in the race for CD2 that further
exemplifies Krekorian’s widespread grassroots community support.
“Paul Krekorian has the courage of
conviction, the experience and the independence to make an
immediate impact for us in City Hall,” Benson said, adding that
Krekorian would advocate for valley interests. “Paul has
provided extraordinary service to constituents in his Assembly
District.”
Benson said Krekorian will be the most
effective in preserving public assets like the Verdugo Hills
Golf Course and “keeping the integrity of our specific and
community plans.”
“Paul Krekorian will be an independent voice
in the Council who will fight for us, instead of Downtown
interests and big developers,” Benson added, describing
Krekorian as “the kind of leader that our district and our city
need during these challenging times.”
Benson was one of the top candidates in the
first part of the Council race, coming in a very strong fourth
place with 1,198 votes (8.29% of the electorate) on September
22. She continually garnered rave reviews at candidate forums
when she displayed an impressive mastery of issues, especially
with regard to development, open space and the environment.
“Mary Benson is among the most effective
advocates for community empowerment in the entire city, and I am
thrilled she is now a part of our grassroots movement for
change,” Krekorian said. “The issues that Mary has fought for -–
open space preservation, limiting overdevelopment and protecting
our neighborhoods -– are important parts of my mission in
running for City Council, and I am confident of succeeding in
that mission with Mary Benson by my side.”
Benson’s endorsement demonstrates Krekorian’s
growing momentum in the race and the developing consensus of
community leaders. Krekorian has now been endorsed by nearly
100 community leaders and prominent neighborhood activists
throughout the Second Council District. He has also earned
endorsements from the Daily News, VICA Chairman Greg Lippe, and
Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. President Richard Close
Tamar Galatzan, former City Council candidate
and current LAUSD Board Member, has also announced her
endorsement of Paul Krekorian for the city’s Second District
Council seat. A well-respected community leader and city
prosecutor, Galatzan’s endorsement provides a significant boost
to the Krekorian campaign.
“Tamar Galatzan is a tremendous advocate for
the people of the San Fernando Valley,” Krekorian said. “She is
a reformer who continues to push for an innovative agenda of
positive change and accountability for our schools, even when
she has had to stand up to politically powerful interests. She
has been on the front lines of fighting against crime and for a
better quality of life for Valley families and has a deep
understanding of our public safety needs. I am thrilled that
Tamar has joined our Valley-oriented campaign for change in City
Hall, and I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with
her to make CD 2 streets and schools safer. .”
Galatzan, a Valley neighborhood prosecutor
and School Board member, finished a very strong third place in
the CD2 primary election, garnering 2,128 votes (12.99% of the
total votes cast). Throughout the campaign, she consistently
impressed voters with her depth of understanding of the issues
facing the Valley and her innovative ideas for solving the
City’s problems.
“Paul Krekorian shares my values and my
concerns about Valley neighborhoods,” said Galatzan. “I admire
his results-oriented leadership in the State Assembly on runaway
film production, as well as his vote against the release of
thousands of state inmates who would end up in our communities.
CD2 voters should know that Paul has been consistent in his
support for neighborhood councils and his opposition to
overdevelopment. Paul is a proven advocate for Valley
homeowners and jobs, and he has the skills and familiarity with
CD2 to be an effective councilmember for us. I look forward to
voting for him on Dec. 8.”
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