A local focus on the 2016 election campaigns and races

Councilwoman Laura Friedman and City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian led the way in the race for the 43rd District state Assembly seat Tuesday night and will now head to a runoff in November.

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Glendale Councilman Ara Najarian came in fourth place Tuesday night in his bid for a seat on the County Board of Supervisors, meaning he did not qualify for a runoff vote in November.

Longtime Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Michael D.

A ballot measure aimed at eliminating the city’s utility users tax — a funding source for key city services — was turned down resoundingly by voters Tuesday night, according to election results.

With about 436 precincts reporting and most mail-in ballots counted, some candidates representing the local area in the primary election have taking resounding leads over their opponents, while others have not.

Kassakhian would be ideal choice As Californians prepare to vote on June 7, the race for the 43rd Assembly District holds special importance for local communities.

Reasons to back Measure N How disappointing that the News-Press is not supporting Measure N.

Election Day is Tuesday, with one key ballot measure in Glendale and three locally decided seats up for grabs in the state Assembly, state Senate and on the County Board of Supervisors.

Councilwoman Laura Friedman in her bid for state Assembly has out-fundraised opponent City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian in the final months leading up to election day on Tuesday, but Kassakhian said he is critical of her contributions from California’s Bay Area.

The committee campaigning against Measure N — which if approved would repeal the city’s utility users tax, which city officials say is a revenue source for key city services —has raised about $118,000 in the past month through several large donations, including one from developer Rick Caruso.

Measure N, which seeks to repeal the city’s utility users tax, goes before voters on June 7 and, if passed, could negatively affect the city of Glendale in many ways.

In his bid for a seat on the L.A.

Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian used a Wednesday press conference to criticize an independent expenditure for running negative campaign ads about him on behalf of Councilwoman Laura Friedman, one of his opponents in the local race for state Assembly.

During a community forum on Tuesday, a supporter of an upcoming measure that would repeal a local tax said the city is using scare tactics such as threatening to close libraries and lay off police personnel and firefighters in hopes of preventing its passage.

Theater group enthralls audience Thank you to Glendale Arts for partnering with the Antaeus Theatre Co. for a reading of William Inge’s classic play “Picnic” on Monday in the Alex Theatre forecourt.

Six of the city’s libraries could be shut down if a measure to repeal the utility users tax is approved by voters in June, according to the latest in a series of doom-and-gloom scenarios painted by the city’s top official.

The League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank is seeking questions and concerns from the public as the California primary election draws near.

A ballot argument in favor of the proposed repeal of the city’s utility users tax was revised per direction this week from a judge, who said the original language was misleading.

Councilwoman Paula Devine was unanimously elected mayor by members of the Glendale City Council on Tuesday, despite Councilwoman Laura Friedman claiming it was her turn and questioning if overlooking her was an attempt to weaken her election bid for the state Assembly.

The city of Glendale is suing one of the main proponents of a ballot measure to repeal the city’s utility users tax, alleging he used inaccurate information that could mislead voters ahead of an election in June.

Council chooses to place challenge on 2016 presidential primary ballot.

Glendale voters will get to decide the fate of the utility users tax — which brings in $27 million per year — following a successful push by opponents to get it on the ballot.

Job creation, water conservation and improving public safety were the key focal points Monday night during a candidate forum for the five hopefuls looking to succeed L.A.