Burbank City Council candidate Garen Yegparian received an unprecedented early-and- endorsement from the ANC-PAC, in anticipation of the February 24, 2009 election, as he attempts to become the first Armenian-American to ever serve on Burbank's top elective body.

"We have never done this so early, but Garen's credentials, fighting for the Armenian Cause, made the endorsement a no-brainer," said a spokesperson of the Armenian National Committee Political Action Committee.

Yegparian, 46, founded the Burbank Armenian National Committee back in the early 1990s. In that position, he built bridges between the Armenian community and the broader Burbank community.

"There have been, and still are, needs we can and must address to help the ARS, Homenetmen, the Davidian-Mariamian Education Foundation and a host of other Armenian-American organizations, "Yegparian said. "These needs can only be met by having Armenian-Americans consistently and actively engaged in the non-Armenian world."

If elected, Yegparian 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 and Community Services Board, has a long list of civic involvement. Most recently, he spurred the established of the Burbank Trails committee. His service also includes serving on: the Burbank Transit Task Force, the Burbank Charter Review Committee, the Burbank Campaign Finance Reform Committee, the Burbank Community Development Goals Committee, and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee as Burbank Representative.

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.