Elen Asatryan has been appointed as the Mayor of Glendale, California, during the Council meeting on April 2nd, succeeding outgoing Mayor Dan Brotman. This marks Asatryan’s first tenure as Mayor since her election to the City Council in July 2022. Notably, she is Glendale’s inaugural Armenian-American female Mayor, the first immigrant woman, and the youngest female to hold both Council and Mayoral positions.
Bringing with her over 24 years of experience across local, state, and federal levels in policy, advocacy, development, and community organizing, Asatryan has been an active civil rights advocate, community leader, and entrepreneur. She established The Stark Group, a public affairs and political consulting firm, in 2017. Previously, she served over 11 years as the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Glendale and later the organization’s Western Region.
Before her tenure in the Glendale City Council, Asatryan spearheaded various initiatives, including programs for high school and college students, the establishment of the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force, and voter registration drives that saw over 50,000 new voters registered in Los Angeles County within two years. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in the adoption of Armenian Genocide education curriculum in California public schools and served on numerous local, regional, and state boards and committees.
As a product of Glendale’s public schools and a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Political Science focusing on American Politics and International Relations, Mayor Asatryan is poised to lead with a dedication to inclusivity and progress.
In response to her appointment, Roubik Golanian, City Manager, expressed his anticipation to collaborate with Mayor Asatryan on her priority initiatives.
In her statement, Mayor Asatryan emphasized her commitment to fostering an inclusive government where marginalized voices are heard, barriers are dismantled, and unity prevails. She expressed gratitude to outgoing Mayor Brotman for his service and leadership, and she looks forward to collaborating with residents, businesses, colleagues, and city staff to realize a vision where diverse communities thrive.
