Glendale council selects new mayor amid public criticism of process
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Summary
Council nominated and voted to elect Councilmember Kasakian as mayor; the meeting featured extended public comment and several council members and residents criticizing last year’s mayor-selection process and a controversial posting on the city election website.
The Glendale City Council moved to elect a new mayor on April 14, 2026 after outgoing Mayor Najarian delivered his final remarks. Councilmember Kasakian was nominated and, following a roll-call, was declared the council’s choice to serve as mayor; the new mayor will be formally installed at the next meeting, the clerk’s office said.
The nomination and vote drew extended statements and public comment. Councilmember Garpetian read a prepared statement criticizing the mayor-selection process, saying the decision over who would serve as mayor “was effectively made last year” and alleging “backdoor dealings and political horse trading” that, in his view, undercut transparency. Garpetian said he would not participate in what he called a predetermined process.
Multiple members of the public used their allotted speaking time to urge alternative nominees and to criticize the council’s approach. Speakers urged that rotating mayorship be respected and expressed frustration with what they described as opaque internal arrangements. One resident described the selection as a “game” and urged more transparent procedures.
The meeting also featured an unrelated but politically charged dispute over content posted to GlendaleVotes.org: an editorial-styled statement accompanying a candidate forum listing that criticized homeowner-association forums. Several residents and council members called the content misleading and inappropriate for the city’s election website; the city clerk’s office acknowledged the post as an oversight and removed it when notified.
Council discussion after public comment centered on process and next steps. Some council members urged clarity for voters about the mayor’s role and warned that changes to charter or selection rules should be considered openly. Others emphasized that the council could place charter amendments on a future ballot but cautioned about timing ahead of the upcoming June election and the incoming council composition.
The clerk recorded the roll-call and announced the nomination’s outcome; the new mayor’s installation is set for the next council meeting.
