Meet Your City Council Candidates Part II

In November, there'll be three City Council seats up for election, yet residents will see the names of nine candidates on the ballot. 

Earlier we posted info about some candidates who'll be running. Here's a look at a few more:  

*Arturo "Art" Salinas*

A resident of South Pas for 17 years, Salinas' first day in his South Pas home was the morning of the Northridge earthquake. 

Salinas is an attorney specializing in civil litigation. He's been volunteering for several years in South Pasadena through  (current Secretary), AYSO (Referee);  (Lector and member of Lector Leadership Committee) and (former President and Secretary).

He and his wife Gigi of 19 years, have three boys: Andrew, 16, Adam, 15, and Aaron, 12. Salinas is also an avid cyclist, runner and golfer.  

Why he's running for City Council:

I am running for City Council because I am committed and dedicated to this City. South Pasadena is facing a number of serious threats to its nature and character, which we have come to know and love, and which I want to work to defend and protect. 

Getting things done effectively requires great communication skills.  I feel I am a very good communicator. I intend to be as direct and clear as possible. However—and this part is very important to me—I intend to treat all with courtesy and respect.

There was a comment by one of my rivals in [a recent article published to the] Review about public employees being "overpaid" and that we should "contract out" more work and services. I know many of our City employees, and I know they are hard-working people trying to make a living, just like I am, and they are entitled to courtesy and respect. They know the economic realities faced by the City. I will not throw the employees under the bus.   

Besides, in my practice I have seen how contracting out does not necessarily make things more economical. There are always hidden costs. I was once involved in a case pertaining to a construction where the parties spent over $1 million in attorneys fees over whether a verbal comment by a superintendent at the job site constituted a change order. This was not economical.

*Chris Glaeser*

A resident of South Pas for five years, Glaeser has served as a member of the Transportation Commission for three years and is now serving on the  

As President of the this year, he restarted the to raise funds for youth fire safety. Other community highlights include: Chairperson of both the for four years and South Pasadena for three years (in which he developed a new parking plan for the float site); Volunteer for four years.

Glaeser holds a degree in Civil Engineering as well as a MBA. He is an experienced Civil Engineer (licensed in Texas) with more than 20 years of combined experience as a senior engineer, director of international business development and business consultant. 

Why he's running for City Council:

I have already immersed myself in the community, taking on active volunteer and leadership positions that contribute to the terrific quality of life we enjoy. As a result of my involvement, I have had the opportunity to closely observe the role that our City Council plays in shaping the future of our community.

I have seen some unfortunate shortcomings in our city government, shortcomings that threaten our quality of life for the long term.  I know that South Pasadena residents are committed to this community, and they want to see common sense and transparency on City Council. They want to see their needs placed first. I want to be their voice. I bring a complement of skills and experience that will make a difference in the future of this city we love so much.

*Marina Khubesrian*

A resident of South Pas for 14 years, Khubesrian's family emigrated to L.A. from Armenia when she was 10-years-old. After practicing medicine in communities in and around Southern California, Salinas and Seattle, Khubesrian moved to South Pasadena in 1998 with her husband, Mark Dreskin.

She worked for the next 14 years as a faculty physician/co-director at Glendale Adventist Medical Center's family physician training program, and as Medical Director of the hospital's addictions treatment units. In these roles, she gained experience in clinical, teaching and administrative roles while serving on various committees, such as Physician Well Being, Quality and Outcomes Improvement, Family Medicine Steering and Continuing Medical Education.

She and her husband have two children aged 10 and 5. Khubesrian currently works part-time at her practice while serving as a parent volunteer at South Pas schools, Girl Scout Troop events and with AYSO/YMCA sports teams. 

Why she's running for City Council:

I have the right combination of vision, skill set and experience to contribute to council in a meaningful way and help take this city towards its greatest potential. I am energized by the tremendous support and receptivity my candidacy has generated amongst the City's political veterans as well as the next generation of it's leaders. 

As a young local parent, I see people who dream for this potential all around me, and many of us will be this city’s future. There is the desire by many talented people to assume this mantle, and I would love to harness this untapped resource of knowledge, passion, wisdom, and competence to work for our city's future. 

I see that the projects and initiatives to make improvements to South Pasadena have been stalemated and their promise not realized. In my experience, the skills to organize, share a vision and engage our citizens, such as those that I possess, are indispensable to realizing that promise. 

*Correction: This article originally reported inaccuracies in Chris Glaeser's background. The current article reflects the correct info. Patch regrets the error.