BURBANK - Lifelong Armenian-American activist, Garen Yegparian, considered one of the front-runners for a seat on the Burbank City Council, has qualified for the ballot in the February 24, 2009 Election, as he attempts to become the first Armenian-American to ever serve on Burbank's top elective body.

Yegparian, a University of Pennsylvania alumnus, was born in Beirut and raised in New Jersey. He has lived in Burbank for more than a decade and is a Technical Research Analyst with the City of Los Angeles.

The 46-year-old former Burbank Armenian National Committee chairman, hopes to hold elected officials more fiscally accountable during these troubled economic times, as well as improve livability in Burbank, which has more than 10,000 Armenians among its 100,000 residents.

Yegparian, who currently serves as the Chairman of Burbank's prestigious Park & Recreation Board and is a member of the Transit Services Task force, has a long list of civic involvement, including serving on: the Burbank Charter Review Committee, the Burbank Campaign Finance Reform Committee, the Burbank Community Development Goals Committee, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy- Advisory Committee as Burbank's Representative.

That last position speaks to Yegparian's deep commitment to the environment. He is an avid hiker and a long-time volunteer leader with the Sierra Club. Earlier this year, Yegparian received a Sierra Club award for a series of hikes he led with California's Attorney General, a congressman, state legislators and municipal officials from Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles.

There are three seats up for grabs in Burbank's February Primary Election. There are 13 people who will be vying for the three City Council positions.

"I expect my long-time involvement in Burbank, as well as my platform to continue the high-level of City services, like police and fire protection, will resonate with the voters," Yegparian said. "I also will fight to enhance our parks and recreational services and provide more cost-efficient public transit."