PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian community activist Sam Kbushyan declared his candidacy to become the next Los Angeles City Councilmember, Asbarez reported.

The bid to represent the Los Angeles City Council district 13 neighborhoods of Hollywood, East Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Virgil Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Temple-Beverly, Koreatown, Historic Filipinotown, Westlake, Wilshire Center, Melrose Hill, Elysian Valley, and Atwater Village. Primary elections are March 5, 2013.

Kbushyan is the Executive Director of the IC Foundation, and is a dedicated expert in community organizing, vocational education, and business advocacy. He serves on the Board of the Institute for Continuous Education, which focuses on vocational skills training and job placement. Additionally, he is a Board Member of the LACER After School Programs and the elected Board Member of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council.

Kbushyan is appointed to the Executive Board of the East Hollywood Chamber of Commerce where he works directly with local small business owners on key issues related to the local economy, labor force, and sustainability.

He is also an advocate for social and economic justice.

Kbushyan studied political science at California State University, Los Angeles, where he received his B.A. He completed his graduate degree at Northeastern University in Boston.