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Kev Abazajian
Kev Abazajian ran for election for an at-large seat of the Irvine City Council in California. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Biography
Abazajian earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Houston and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, San Diego. His professional experience includes working as a professor of physics and astronomy. Abazajian is affiliated with the Cal-Bridge Steering Committee, the American Physical Society, the American Astronomical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Friend of Science Network for the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Armenian National Committee of America.[1]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Irvine City Council (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Irvine City Council on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Farrah Khan (Nonpartisan) | 15.5 | 23,085 |
| ✔ |  | Anthony Kuo (Nonpartisan) | 14.2 | 21,071 |
| Carrie O'Malley (Nonpartisan) | 13.0 | 19,267 | ||
| Lauren Johnson-Norris (Nonpartisan) | 11.5 | 17,147 | ||
 | Kev Abazajian (Nonpartisan) | 11.4 | 16,889 | |
| Frank McGill (Nonpartisan) | 8.3 | 12,313 | ||
| Jaci Woods (Nonpartisan) | 6.8 | 10,092 | ||
 | Mark Newgent (Nonpartisan) | 5.4 | 8,077 | |
 | John Park (Nonpartisan) | 4.6 | 6,877 | |
 | Gang Chen (Nonpartisan) | 3.9 | 5,835 | |
 | Lee Sun (Nonpartisan) | 3.7 | 5,462 | |
| David Chey (Nonpartisan) | 1.8 | 2,624 | ||
| Total votes: 148,739 | |||
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Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
As a scientist, I coin myself as a 'facts first' candidate as most of my political ideals and decisions are based on hard data and expertise. To this end, numerous scientific studies have illuminated many issues we face and have helped to shape my political philosophy. Irvine needs city management that plans growth and not unleashing it without limit; it needs green solutions to combat our carbon footprint; and it needs leaders the community trusts will fight on their behalf. As an elected official, I will always advocate for what our community desires and what is best for the residents of Irvine. The greatest challenge any functioning government faces is maximizing constituent services while minimizing overall cost. Irvine is currently experiencing serious growing pains due to rapid development and lack of forward vision. I would foster smart growth to maximize city revenue by working with finance experts and our broader business community to enhance sources of new revenue, while making sure the budget remains within prudent limits. Our climate is changing. It is widely known, by both the public and scientists that our world is changing in large part by the carbon footprint we have placed on the Earth. Therefore, as the “facts first” candidate I will expand even further on Irvine’s green initiatives. For example, Irvine has one of the largest composting programs in the county. Why not take this a step further? Offer free compost bins on Earth Day to residents, sponsor compost pick ups by the trash companies, and introducing city wide energy saving initiatives. There is a lost that can be accomplished on the city level and every helping hand makes an impact on our environment. Lastly, our beautiful community and it’s wonderful residents need a leader they can trust. My campaign was launched one idea and one idea only, to combat those who don't have our best interest in mind. To this end, I have pledged to never accept for-profit developer or corporate PAC money to ensure my integrity to Irvine voters. I am proud to say our campaign has thrived on small donations and community activism as our success comes from the voters and I am overwhelmingly grateful for their support. I hope this November 6th, you decide to vote. Moreover, I hope you vote for leaders our city so desperately needs. Your friend and advocate, Dr. Kev Abazajian Is there anything you would like to add? Irvine, the city I am proud to call home, is facing horrendous traffic, overcrowded classrooms, backroom deals, and dwindling community services. I am Kev Abazajian, a professor, scientist, and community leader committed to addressing the needs of Irvine residents through fact-based solutions. This is why I am endorsed by long-term City Councilwoman Mary Ann Gaido, who helped draft the original 1973 City of Irvine General Plan. My wife and I teach and conduct research at the University of California, Irvine, and my third-grade son attends our neighborhood school. I am invested in making our city more responsive to its residents and ending backroom deals. Working together is the formula to fixing the issues we face. I will: honor voters by placing the location of the Veterans Cemetery at its original site on the frontline, team up with UCI's nationally-recognized Institute of Transportation Studies to tackle traffic, implement sound policies for convenient transit and an environmentally-friendly future, fight for better city services, and bring transparency and accountability to our city government. Let's make Irvine lead the way, and make our city one of the best places to live for generations to come. I hope to earn your trust and your vote. Learn more at KevForCouncil.com.[2] |
” |
| —Kev Abazajian[1] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of California Sacramento (capital) |
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