Glendale councilman suggests Kim Kardashian get spot on city’s Rose Parade float

Kim Kardashian may not be able to be run for mayor of Glendale, but she may be invited to ride on the city’s upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade float.

“She has shown an interest in Glendale,” said Councilman Ara Najarian, who at a City Council meeting on Tuesday suggested the reality TV star be invited to have one of four seat’s on the float.

For Najarian, the motivation behind the invitation was apparently due in large part to the public relations bonanza that Kardashian’s presence on the float would mean for Glendale.

“One or two words from Kim Kardashian are worth hundreds of thousands of advertising dollars,” Najarian said.

Kardashian caused quite a stir in April, when news reports of her desire to run for Glendale’s mayoral post surfaced. Although she can’t technically run for mayor -- a ceremonial position appointed among elected council members -- Kardashian got political pundits going.

Not all the council members on Tuesday were on board with the idea, but Najarian’s suggestion was enough to bring the issue back at next week’s council meeting for official discussion.

Councilman Dave Weaver said he was against Kardashian sitting on the float, which features several Glendale landmarks, such as the Alex Theatre.

Instead, he’d prefer local high school students on the float.

“That creates more community involvement,” he said, adding that it’s much better than “sticking a council member on the float or a Hollywood movie star.”

Mayor Frank Quintero said he supported reviewing Najarian’s idea, but would prefer if Kardashian purchased a seat and donated the money to next year’s float. Glendale has experienced financial difficulties in covering the cost of the Rose Float in recent years.

For his part, Najarian said he didn’t know what Kardashian’s response would be, since riding on the float would require an early-morning rise -- and she may be busy with her boyfriend, Kanye West, on New Year’s Day.

-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News