City Treasurer

Come next election, Glendale voters will be choosing a new city treasurer. But they may also have to decide whether they want to keep voting for that position or turn it into an appointment made by the city manager. In recent years, Glendale has had a tough time attracting candidates to run for the position. Now that there's a possibility people may run for a position that ceases to exist, some community leaders are wondering, “Who's going to run?” “If it's been difficult to attract qualified candidates before, I'm not sure how this helps,” said City Treasurer Ron Borucki, who is in favor of an appointed treasurer.

An initiative that would simplify how Glendale transfers tens of millions of dollars from the city-owned utility to pay for general public services is officially going on the April ballot. City Hall officials say the changes, which the City Council approved Tuesday for the ballot, would update a decades-old practice and bring it in line with modern accounting principles. Critics, though, contend it will drastically change what city leaders had intended more than 70 years ago, when the revenue transfer was established.

City Councilman Rafi Manoukian successfully defeated Measure A on Tuesday, preserving his successful bid for city treasurer. While Manoukian was the sole candidate for city treasurer, he wasn't without some opposition in the form of Measure A, which was defeated on vote of 11,602 against and 4,001 in support. Manoukian mounted a strong campaign against the proposed Charter amendment that would have changed the city treasurer into an appointed, not elected, position - thereby nullifying the outcome of his uncontested quest for the office.

The outgoing city treasurer, and the city councilman vying for his job, will be facing off on April's ballot as they try to convince voters to either keep the treasurer as an appointment, or change it to an elected position. Councilman Rafi Manoukian and Treasurer Ron Borucki are set to file their 300-word arguments by Jan. 25, a day after the four people who have indicated they want to run for the open seat will have to turn in 100 signatures each to make their candidacy official.

What investment strategy do you intend to follow through these turbulent financial times? The primary responsibility of the city treasurer is preserving the principal funds of the taxpayers of the city of Glendale. The secondary responsibility is ensuring liquidity so that the current obligations of the city are met on time. And third is the return on the reserve funds that are governed by the policies adopted by the City Council. I do intend to follow these conservative approaches to the investment strategies, and will recommend that foreign bankers acceptances, which are currently allowed by city policy, be removed from the list of acceptable investments for the city of Glendale.

Several measures, including one that could make the city treasurer an appointed rather than elected position, have moved closer to being placed on an upcoming ballot. On Tuesday, Glendale City Council members directed the city attorney to bring back specifics on the measures - one of which would also deflate the debate surrounding an annual electricity revenue transfer - before they approve putting them before voters. The measure deciding the fate of the city treasurer position could be part of the April municipal election, while others may take more time to get on a ballot.

Councilman Rafi Manoukian's committee against a ballot measure that would make the city treasurer's position an appointed rather than elected position is in debt to the tune of $10,865. Manoukian, the sole candidate for treasurer, has spent $12,965 on mailers, advertisements, signs, phone calls and voter lists, but has raised just $2,100 - all of it from himself and his parents, according to the latest campaign disclosure forms filed last week. Manoukian said a fundraiser he had after the disclosure forms were due should cover much of the expenditures, which are all on credit cards.

Rather than raising money for his own campaign for city treasurer, Councilman Rafi Manoukian plans to set up a fundraising committee to battle a ballot measure that could prevent him from taking the job. While Manoukian is running unopposed for treasurer, Measure A, if passed, would convert the elected position into an appointed one. “The majority of my focus on the campaign will be against the measure,” Manoukian said in an interview, adding...

The Glendale city treasurer is responsible for the receipt and disbursements of all city funds, the management of the city's investment portfolio, and reporting investment activity to the City Council and the people of Glendale. The city treasurer is privy to the financial management of the city and should also report to the people the financial health of the city. Our treasurer appears to be a good keeper of the city investments, but has not informed his voting constituents of the health of the city funds.

Although he's agreed to stay on the City Council for 14 months, Councilman Frank Quintero this week affirmed that he plans to call it quits after his latest assignment is over. "That's it. No more farewells. Fourteen months from now I leave, and that's the end of it," Quintero said on his first day back Tuesday after leaving office two weeks ago. The City Council appointed Quintero to the abbreviated term after former Councilman Rafi Manoukian stepped down, with two years left on his term, to become the city treasurer.

Former Mayor Frank Quintero was appointed to hold a 14-month term on the City Council on Tuesday after six other former mayors turned down the city's offer to apply for the job. “They were very appreciative to be thought of,” said City Manager Scott Ochoa, but in the end, they said they didn't have the time. The pool of possible appointees grew to seven last week because city staff initially forgot Jim Perkins when they were asked by council to contact former mayors. But the council's unanimous vote to give Quintero - out of office for less than two weeks - back his seat didn't sit well with the fourth top vote-getter in this month's municipal election, who said his finish at the polls should have been taken into consideration.

With a current City Councilman set to become city treasurer , that leaves an open seat on the dais that could be filled by either an appointment or special election. Both options have their drawbacks - from costs to candidate pool - and likely members of the new City Council said they'll have to weigh all sides before making a decision. However, most said Wednesday they'd like to choose an option sooner, rather than later. "I think it's our first order of business to get a full complement of council members," said Councilman Ara Najarian, who, according to unofficial election results released Wednesday morning, received the highest number of votes.

City Councilman Rafi Manoukian successfully defeated Measure A on Tuesday, preserving his successful bid for city treasurer. While Manoukian was the sole candidate for city treasurer, he wasn't without some opposition in the form of Measure A, which was defeated on vote of 11,602 against and 4,001 in support. Manoukian mounted a strong campaign against the proposed Charter amendment that would have changed the city treasurer into an appointed, not elected, position - thereby nullifying the outcome of his uncontested quest for the office.

Councilman Rafi Manoukian's committee against a ballot measure that would make the city treasurer's position an appointed rather than elected position is in debt to the tune of $10,865. Manoukian, the sole candidate for treasurer, has spent $12,965 on mailers, advertisements, signs, phone calls and voter lists, but has raised just $2,100 - all of it from himself and his parents, according to the latest campaign disclosure forms filed last week. Manoukian said a fundraiser he had after the disclosure forms were due should cover much of the expenditures, which are all on credit cards.

I'd like to encourage all voters to vote yes on Measure A on April 2. Your City Council placed this measure before you with the belief that it is time for our city treasurer to be appointed rather than elected. Our investment portfolio is currently around $400 million. That is a far cry from decades past. It is extremely important that a skilled career money manager oversee our investment portfolio. More than 350 cities in California, many of them smaller than Glendale, have realized the wisdom of an appointed treasurer.

On three occasions, Glendale voters turned down proposals that would have converted the City Treasurer from an elected position to an appointed one. They should reject it again. The treasurer oversees a $372-million investment portfolio as part of a full-time job, and it pays relatively well: $129,690 at last look, not including benefits. The main supporters of the measure, Councilman Dave Weaver and current Treasurer Ron Borucki, say the position is too important to be a popularity contest.

I wholeheartedly agree with city treasurer Ron Borucki that his position should be an appointed one. Some positions in city government should not be based on politics. The city treasurer needs to have a background in banking. We need the best-qualified candidate, not the most politically connected, the most popular, or the one who can raise the most campaign funds. The city treasurer should not be beholden to voters nor campaign donors; they need to do what is fiscally responsible and what is in the best interest of the city's assets.

On March 1, Brittany Levine wrote an article topped by the headline, “ Manoukian hopes to help quash Measure A ,” which would make the city treasurer an elected position. He hopes for strategic support to serve in that position. The City Council wants to make the position appointed, thus attracting more qualified applicants. Many thanks for a valuable service performed by letter writer Jaye Scholl Bohlen of Glendale. The News-Press published Bohlen's letter, titled “Professional treasurer needed,” in the Mailbag on March 6. Our attention was attracted to the need for an appointed treasurer.

Should voters continue to elect the city treasurer? Or should we let Glendale's city manager appoint the treasurer, who would then serve at will? The question will be on the ballot as “Measure A” in the upcoming election April 2. A “yes” vote means you're in favor of an appointed treasurer. Clearly, the treasurer's job has gotten more complex in recent years as cities struggle with getting their finances under control. That may explain why an increasing number of California cities, especially larger ones, are voting to convert the treasurer's position to an appointed one. For the record, Pasadena's treasurer is appointed, Burbank's is still elected.