Election steady in fundraising

CITY HALL — While City Council incumbent and candidate Rafi Manoukian continues to lead the pack on fundraising with less than a week to go before the election, challenger Greg Krikorian pulled in the largest lump sum this filing period.

The Glendale Management Assn., which is the union that represents city managers, donated $11,000 to Krikorian’s race for a City Council seat.

The Glendale Unified School District Board member brought in $44,700 this period for a total of about $60,800 overall.

“The support has been wonderful,” Krikorian said. “We’ve had widespread support throughout the community. We had contributions from a lot of individuals and that gives me confidence that we represent the entire community.”

Manoukian took in just over $31,000 between Feb. 18 and March 17, bringing his total monetary contributions to $121,080 — by far the largest sum gathered this election.

His two largest contributions this period were two $4,000 donations from private citizens, one in Burbank resident and one from Glendale. He also received $3,000 from the Glendale City Employees Assn.

“I’ve had tremendous support within the community,” Manoukian said.

Candidate Vrej Agajanian is third in the money race, receiving about $29,100 this period with his total contributions rounding off at $61,400.

Agajanian’s largest contributions this period — two $3,000 donations — came from private citizens. He also pulled in $2,500 from Lexor Enterprises Inc. and $1,000 from an L.A. labor union.

Council candidate Chahe Keuroghelian raised $24,200 this filing period. His biggest contributions were two $5,000 contributions from Top Notch Dental Laboratory of Glendale and Galaxy Traffic School of North Hollywood.

Keuroghelian’s total contributions were not accessible from the City Clerk’s office as of press time.

Close behind was Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver, who gathered just over $21,000 this period, with his biggest contribution, $5,000, coming from the Americana at Brand LLC.

Weaver raised a total of $32,600 for his race for another term.

Next in line was candidate John Drayman, who took in just over $19,000 this period for a total of about $29,900.

His largest contributions came as $1,500 from the Glendale Alliance, a political action committee, and $1,500 from IKA Holdings Ltd. of Reno.

Candidate Herbert Molano has not yet filed his statement, but said he had received about $3,000 this period, with the largest contribution being $1,500 from the Glendale Alliance, he said.

This would bring Molano’s total contributions to about $3,200.

“The same players from different groups throughout the city are having an impact [through contributions] on our elections,” he said.

Candidate Lenore Solis had also not yet filed but said she had received less than $500 in contributions this period.

In the school board race, candidate Elizabeth Manassarian led the group, taking in about $12,400 in cash contributions this period, bringing her total to just over $20,000.

“I don’t think that finances have to do with where that’s going to put me in the race…. I don’t think it’s related. But it helps for advertising and other things [signs, fliers, mail],” Manassarian said.

Her biggest contribution was $1,500 from Grigorian Family Trust, of Arcadia.

Next in the school-board money race was candidate Nayiri Nahabedian, who took in about $9,800 this period, bringing her to about $30,000 in contributions.

“The contributions that the Glendalians have made has really allowed us to communicate to a great number of voters,” Nahabedian said. “And I’m really glad they have chosen to actively participate in the campaign and put their money where their education lies.”

Her biggest contribution this period was $1,500 from EDH & Associates of Santa Monica, far shy of her largest lump sum last filing period of $5,000 from the Glendale Teachers’ Assn.

Candidate Todd Hunt took in about $7,900 in cash contributions this period, with his biggest contributions coming in the form of $4,500 from Pasadena based Vertical Management System, Inc. where he is employed.

His total contributions come to about $10,600.

Incumbent Mary Boger brought in about $5,300 — mostly in $100 donations from Glendale residents — totaling about $10,500.

Her largest contribution was $250 from a Glendale couple.

Candidates Naira Khachatrian and Hasmig Aslanian turned in statements to the City Clerk’s office stating they anticipated receiving and spending less than $1,000 on their campaigns.

In the Glendale Community College Board race, Incumbent Tony Tartaglia was in the lead this period, bringing in about $13,900, rounding his total cash contributions off at about $18,300.

“I had an initial budget projection of $20,000 and I’m right on target,” Tartaglia said.

His largest contributions were three $1,000 contributions — separate ones from two Glendale residents and one from the Political Action Committee for Classified Employees of the California School Employees Assn.

The association also gave $1,000 to incumbent Vahe Peroomian, which was his largest contribution this period.

Peroomian pulled in just over $13,000 this period, rounding his total off to $13,600.

College Board challenger Christine Rodriguez brought in about $2,100 this period, bringing in a total of just over $2,500.

Rodriguez’s biggest contribution was $500 from the Los Angeles Faculty Guild.