Landregan’s remarks false, irresponsible

At the Montrose Verdugo Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, I was disappointed that my opponent, Stephanie Landregan, concluded her remarks with irresponsible and blatantly false statements.

Landregan rescinded her comments the very next day, telling the Glendale News-Press that she “misspoke at the forum.”

While I am pleased that Landregan rescinded her comments, I am disappointed that she would resort to making uninformed public statements based on misinformation in an effort to bolster her candidacy. The office of the city clerk stands above politics and divisive tactics and serves as a model of transparency and guarantor of democracy.

I am proud of what my office has accomplished in the last eight years to improve elections, introduce more security and transparency, and recruit the necessary staff to ensure fair and accurate elections. Because of our hard work, today Glendale’s voter turnout in municipal elections is higher than in any of our neighboring cities.

Our efforts were recently recognized by experts from the Claremont McKenna College’s Rose Institute of State and Local Government, one of the state’s leading institutions on elections, demographics, fiscal and public policy analysis, who confirmed that Glendale is on the cutting edge of looking for ways to improve elections in our region.

Our voters can leave the polls secure in the knowledge that their sacred and constitutional right to vote has been validated and is protected. To suggest otherwise is a disservice to our community and our democratic process.

I am proud to have spearheaded these changes in the city clerk’s office and I am eager to continue discussing with the voters of Glendale the issues that matter most to them.

Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian
Glendale

Editor’s note: The writer is seeking reelection to the office of city clerk.