Zareh Sinanyan Explained

Zareh Sinanyan
Office:High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia
Term Start:June 14, 2019
Predecessor:Position established (Mkhitar Hayrapetyan as Minister of Diaspora)[1]
Office1:Member of the Glendale City Council
Term Start1:April 2013
Term End1:April 2018
Office2:Mayor of Glendale, California
Term Start2:April 2018
Term End2:April 2019
Predecessor2:Vartan Gharpetian[2]
Successor2:Ara Najarian
Term Start3:April 2014
Term End3:April 2015
Predecessor3:Dave Weaver
Successor3:Ara Najarian
Birth Name:Zareh John Sinanyan[3]
Birth Date:4 December 1973[4]
Birth Place:Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality:Armenian-American
Children:4
Alma Mater:University of California, Los Angeles
University of Southern California

Zareh John Sinanyan (Armenian: Զարեհ Սինանյան, born December 4, 1973) is an Armenian-American politician currently serving as the High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia. He is a former member of the city council of Glendale, California and twice served as the city's mayor. As a city councilman, he held posts in various commissions, including Parks, Recreation and Community Service, and the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.

On June 14, 2019 Sinanyan was appointed High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs of Armenia (a position created to replace the abolished post of Minister of Diaspora) by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.[5]

Early life and education

Zareh Sinanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1973 and attended the local school No. 172.[6] [7] His father was born in Istanbul, Turkey and settled in Armenia in 1946. His mother is from Talin, Armenia.[8]

He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1988 and settled in Burbank, California. Sinanyan attended the John Muir Middle School in Burbank and went on to graduate from Burbank High School. In 1997 he earned a bachelor's degrees in political science and history in 1997 at the University of California, Los Angeles.[9] [10] He then attended law school at the University of Southern California, where he obtained his Juris Doctor. While in law school, Sinanyan worked for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and interned for Justice Earl Johnson of the California Court of Appeal. After his graduation from law school, he entered civil litigation service and ran his own law office.

Political career

Sinanyan was appointed to the Parks, Recreation and Community Service's Commission of Glendale in 2006 and held this position until 2008. He served as chairman to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2011. He was also a commissioner to the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2013.

City Councilman

Sinanyan ran for one of three Glendale City Council seats in the April 2013 election and finished third out of twelve candidates.[11] He is the first Armenian-born politician to hold a seat on the Glendale City Council.[12] At his second City Council meeting, he publicly apologized for "racial and homophobic slurs" he had posted online for several years before the election.[13] [14]

In July 2013 Sinanyan supported the establishment of a memorial to Korean comfort women in the Glendale Central Park, over the objections of the government of Japan and dozens of Japanese-Americans.[15] Sinanyan spoke at the unveiling of the memorial in late July, citing his own background as the grandson of an Armenian genocide survivor and asserting: "The best way to resolve conflicts... the best way to heal wounds... is to acknowledge them. My people, my grandfather, were subjected to a horrible, horrible crime... To this day, because no apology has come, no proper acknowledgement has come... the wound is deep, it's festering, and there can be no moving forward without it."[16]

Mayor

In April 2014, Sinanyan was appointed mayor of Glendale, California replacing former mayor Dave Weaver.[17]

In November 2014 Sinanyan and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti were among the California politicians invited to attend the opening of a BBCN representative office in Seoul, South Korea.[18] Sinanyan also met with Lee Koon-hyon, Secretary General of the Saenuri Party.[19]

Controversy

In 2013, Zareh Sinanyan made several racist and homophobic remarks online, using slurs to describe gays, threatening rape, and insulting Mexican-Americans, Muslims and women.[20] [21]

Personal life

Zareh Sinanyan and his wife, Lori Sinanyan, have four children, 1 daughter and 3 sons, named Areg Sinanyan (Youngest), Aram Sinanyan, Mher Sinanyan, and Anahid Sinanyan (Oldest)

Endorsements

Sinanyan endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2016 presidential election.[22]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://asbarez.com/181627/zareh-sinanyan-appointed-high-commissioner-of-diaspora-affairs/ Zareh Sinanyan Appointed High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122155900/https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/management-services/mayors-gallery Mayoral Portraits
  3. Web site: Zareh John Sinanyan # 217103 - Attorney Licensee Search.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20191122153754/https://www.gov.am/en/staff-structure/other/966/ Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia
  5. News: Zareh Sinanyan Appointed High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs . . 14 June 2019.
  6. News: Sinanyan to Run for Glendale City Council. Asbarez. 10 January 2013.
  7. News: Corrigan. Kelly. Third graders get a visit from the mayor. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 4 October 2014.
  8. News: "Փոսի" անգլիական դպրոցից մինչեւ Գլենդելի քաղաքապետարան. հարցազրույց նորանշանակ քաղաքապետ Զարեհ Սինանյանի հետ (English: From Yerevan's "Posi" English school to mayor's office of Glendale. An interview with mayor of Glendale Zareh Sinanyan.. Resource.am. 13 April 2014.
  9. Web site: Mayor Zareh Sinanyan. City of Glendale.
  10. Web site: Meet your next Glendale City Council Member. Vote Zareh.
  11. Web site: Glendale council candidate Zareh Sinanyan, accused of posting slurs, among top finishers. Mariecar. Mendoza. 2 April 2013. 17 December 2014. Los Angeles Daily News.
  12. News: Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan Visits the Western Diocese. Western Diocese of the Armenian Church. 22 May 2014.
  13. Web site: Glendale councilman Zareh Sinanyan apologizes for online slurs. Mariecar. Mendoza. 1 May 2013. 17 December 2014. Los Angeles Daily News.
  14. Web site: Glendale City Councilman Apologizes For Past Racist, Homophobic, Vulgar Comments. 1 May 2013. 17 December 2014. CBS Los Angeles.
  15. Web site: Glendale approves controversial 'comfort women' memorial. Christina. Villacorte. 8 July 2013. 17 December 2014. Los Angeles Daily News.
  16. Web site: Comfort Women Monument Unveiled in Glendale. J. K. . Yamamoto. Mikey Hirano. Culross. Rafu Shimpo. 2 August 2013. 17 December 2014.
  17. Web site: Zareh Sinanyan elected new mayor of Glendale . clarkchronicle.com . Alen . Shirvanyan . April 10, 2014 . June 5, 2020.
  18. Web site: BBCN Opens Representative Office in Seoul, Korea (press release). 25 November 2014. 17 December 2014. Globe Newswire.
  19. Web site: Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan in Seoul. 17 December 2014. European Pressphoto Agency.
  20. News: Glendale Councilman Zareh Sinanyan apologizes for racist postings. Levine. Brittany. 2013-05-01. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 0458-3035. 2016-04-20.
  21. News: Hews. Brian. Admitted Racist, Homophobic Glendale Mayor Zareh Sinanyan Supporting Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian's Election Campaign. 3 April 2017. Cerritos Community News.
    • https://web.facebook.com/zareh.sinanyan/posts/10201414527281930
    • https://web.facebook.com/zareh.sinanyan/posts/10201437389213464
    • https://web.facebook.com/zareh.sinanyan/posts/10201393131987061