EX-MAYOR UPSTAGES HIS SUCCESSOR YOUSEFIAN WED AT MEETING.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer GLENDALE - The Glendale City Council appointed Rafi Manoukian Rafi Manoukian is a former member of the city council in Glendale, California. He was recently notified that he has been selected by the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) as a recipient of the 2006 Ellis Island as mayor on Monday, but it was outgoing Mayor Bob Yousefian who stole the show by marrying his fiancee in front of a capacity crowd at City Hall. This will be Manoukian's second term as mayor. The 44-year-old accountant served a one-year term as mayor from 2002-03. ``It is largely symbolic, but it does also have some challenges in terms of leading the city and setting the pace for the city,'' Manoukian said. A year ago, Yousefian surprised the crowd when he proposed to his girlfriend, Sue Eller, 44, during the ceremony marking his move into the mayor's chair. ``Everyone has been bugging us: When is the date? When is the date? When is the date? Well, I've got news for you, today is the date,'' Yousefian said before stepping down to the public speaker's podium to slip a wedding ring on his fiancee's finger. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Archbishop Hovnan Derderian (born December 1, 1957) is the youngest Armenian clergyman to have been elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Born in Beirut, Derderian studied at the Antelias Seminary and the Seminary of the Holy See in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church Armenian Church, autonomous Christian church, sometimes also called the Gregorian Church. Its head, a primate of honor only, is the catholicos of Yejmiadzin, Armenia; Karekin II became catholicos in 1999. of North America presided over the ceremony, which was concluded at City Hall but begun in a Glendale church before the meeting. After the wedding, Yousefian asked Councilman David Weaver if he had managed to top his surprise announcement from last year. ``Never again will you see this happen in the council chambers. You topped it,'' Weaver said. In taking over as mayor, Manoukian remarked that Yousefian had faced challenges and tragedy during the year, including a battle over the Americana at Brand Americana at Brand will be a large outdoor shopping community in Glendale, California. The site is owned by Caruso Affiliated, who owns many other commercial properties such as The Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles, CA. project and the fatal Metrolink crash in February. Before the meeting, Yousefian said it had been a busy year, and he looked forward to handing over the mayor's gavel gavel small mallet used by judge or presiding officer to signal order. [Western Culture: Misc.] See : Authority . ``I have never seen anything like this. There were so many different things that we had to accomplish this year, and there were a lot of difficult issues we had to deal with,'' Yousefian said. Manoukian said he will revive his Coffee with Rafi program, giving Glendale residents the chance to come talk to him the first Thursday of the month at the Glendale farmers market. ``For me, the work starts with being accessible to the community. That's the most important part, I think,'' he said. Several newly elected and re-elected officials took the oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. at Monday's ceremony, including new City Councilman Ara Najarian, who received the most votes of any council member in last week's election. Najarian's brother, Rafi Najarian, 39, an Air Force base dental surgeon dental surgeon n. A general practitioner of dentistry having a DDS or DMD degree. who has served in Iraq, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. to open the meeting. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com |
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