Adrin Nazarian

Adrin Nazarian
Ատրին Նազարեան
File:Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (AD46).jpg
Member of the California State Assembly from the 46th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 3, 2012
Preceded by	new district
Personal details
Born	(1973-03-19) March 19, 1973 Iran
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Diana
Residence	Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Politician
Website	asmdc.org/members/a46/

Adrin Nazarian (Armenian: Ատրին Նազարեան; hayer: [hɑˈjɛɾ], born March 19, 1973) is an American politician and member of the California State Assembly representing the 46th district, encompassing the central-southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is of Iranian-Armenian descent. As of November 2014 is the first and only Iranian-American elected to the California State Legislature.

Biography

Adrin Nazarian was born in Iran. As a child, his family immigrated to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. He grew up there and graduated from a local Valley school before receiving his BA degree in Economics from UCLA in 1996.

Nazarian served as chief of staff to Councilmember Paul Krekorian, who represented the communities of Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, North Hollywood and Valley Glen. Previously, Nazarian had served as chief of staff to then-Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian in the California State legislature, representing the communities of North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Valley Glen and Toluca Lake among others, since 2006.

Nazarian developed his passion for public service from an early age and while in college decided to volunteer in as many places he could to better understand in what arena he would apply himself. A life altering experience was when he applied to become an interviewer of battered and abused women at the San Fernando Valley Superior Court Domestic Violence Clinic unit as a summer internship job. There he saw first-hand the results of what happens in the privacy of homes, taking down reports in order to submit restraining orders on behalf of the victims. This experience stayed with Nazarian, which years later lead him to sit on the YWCA Board, and has influenced each of his policy making roles in public service.

Upon graduating UCLA, Nazarian participated in the prestigious CORO Fellowship in Public Affairs program. From 1997-1999, he served as an aide to Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), assisting him with business and labor community issues. In 1999, former Governor Gray Davis appointed Nazarian as Special Assistant to the California Trade and Commerce Agency. During his tenure at the agency, he helped establish the Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, which focused on creating and maintaining technology-based jobs in California.

Adrin believes in civic engagement and the importance of giving back to his community, he has served on the boards of several community-based organizations including the East Valley YMCA and the YWCA. He was one of the founding members of Generation Next Mentorship program which worked with local public schools to give young people alternatives to a life of gangs and drugs.

Adrin and his wife, Diana, reside in Sherman Oaks with their sons Alex and David.

Political career

California State Assembly

The Campaign

The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, where Nazarian placed in first with 27.5% of the vote defeating a crowded field of 6 candidates; Andrew Lachman (D), Adriano Lecaros (D), Brian Johnson (D), Laurette Healey (D), and Jay Stern (R).

On November 6, 2012, Nazarian handily won a resounding victory over his opponent Jay Stern (R) with the support of 71% of the voting electorate.

California's 46th State Assembly district election, 2012
Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Adrin Nazarian	11,498	27.5
	Republican	Jay L. Stern	8,401	20.1
	Democratic	Brian C. Johnson	8,370	20.0
	Democratic	Andrew B. Lachman	8,085	19.3
	Democratic	Laurette Healey	4,502	10.8
	Democratic	Adriano Lecaros	1,004	2.4
Total votes			41,860	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Adrin Nazarian	92,870	71.0
	Republican	Jay L. Stern	37,928	29.0
Total votes			130,798	100.0
	Democratic win (new seat)

Assemblymember representing the 46th district

File:Official 1st Bill Intro 008 02-11-13.jpg

Nazarian introducing his first bill in his first term in office.

On December 3, 2012, Adrin Nazarian was inaugurated into the California State Assembly, representing the 46th district, encompassing the central-southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Education, Health, Rules, and Transportation. Assemblymember Nazarian also sits on the State Allocation Board.

Legislation 2013-2014

• AB 286 Film Industry Tax Credit
• AB 320 Tobacco-Free Policy
• AB 422 School Lunch Health Notice
• AB 442 Minimum Wage
• AB 501 New Car Dealers Clean-Up
• AB 505 Language Access Standards
• AB 580 Funding for Arts
• AB 612 Traffic Lights
• AB 617 Exchange/Medi-Cal Notice & Appeal Procedures
• AB 649 Fracking Moratorium
• AB 650 NGS Program
• AB 850 JPA Rate Reduction Bonds
• AB 1189 Film Industry Tax Credit
• ACR 28 Armed Forces Day

External links

• Official website — California's 46th State Assembly district: Adrin Nazarian
• Official Facebook page — Adrin Nazarian
• Official Twitter — Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian
• Campaign website — then-candidate Adrin Nazarian