Dr. Marina Khubesrian Announcement | No Longer Seeking 3rd Term on City Council

 

In a surprise announcement, Dr. Marina Khubesrian said in a statement Tuesday she will not be seeking a third term on the South Pasadena City Council.

“Having served the residents of the City for nearly 10 years, this is not a decision I make lightly,” she wrote in her departing message. “Going forward I plan to focus my energies with advocacy groups for environmental, economic, and housing justice.”

Khubesrian was elected to the council in November 2011 and served as mayor in 2014 and 2019, noting it was an honor to be a voice in the community.

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“I want to extend a heart-felt ‘Thank You!’ to all my supporters who have stood alongside me to help our Great City move forward into a more just and sustainable future for all of us,” she acknowledged. “I value and cherish the strong relationships I have built with so many wonderful people – many members of the South Pasadena community – during this phase of my public service.”

Khubesrian stressed the importance of raising her family in South Pasadena and “am grateful for the support and sacrifice of my partner, Mark, and my children, Sofie and Max, during this time,” she said. “We love this charming city with its walkable neighborhoods, tree-lined streets and all the neighbors, teachers, activists, and public servants that make up our vibrant community.”

The councilmember who will stay on until her term ends in December said she is proud “to have led during a time of important transition for the City to a more modern, well-run and inclusive one,” adding, “The City of South Pasadena stands ready today for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow with a rebuilt modern professional workforce, more inclusive community, and the 710 Freeway victory behind us freeing up resources for other priorities.”

Under her stewardship, Khubesrian said “we have made commendable progress fixing our infrastructures and steered our city towards green and sustainable practices with investments in 100% Renewable-Energy, the Green Action Plan, and Climate Action Plan. We continue to face a global pandemic with little disruption to City services, delivered meals to seniors, enacted tenant protections, and initiated programs to helping struggling small businesses.”

Over the years, Khubesrian held key leadership roles in regional partnerships on the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito Vector Control District Board of Trustees and the Arroyo Verdugo Communities Joint Powers Authority. “These appointments greatly benefit the interests of South Pasadena residents at negligible cost,” she said.

In addition, Khubesrian led the Beyond the 710 Coalition, saying: “We joined the ‘Measure M Campaign’ and testified before the Metro Board, who voted unanimously to abandon the 710 Tunnel on May 25, 2017. South Pasadena will further benefit from the additional $80 million in transportation funding from Measure R money in addition to the millions from Measure M.”

In the days ahead, Khubesrian looks forward to working on improving the quality of life, safety and security “for all as a private citizen and without the constraints of a public office,” she said. “We need to continue making responsible decisions, look for smart housing and mobility solutions, keep our parks, library, community facilities operational as we adapt to new public health and economic realities.”

In the words of what she calls “the Late, Great John Lewis,” civil-rights leader who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district until his recent death, on his decision to choose love, Khubesrian concluded her statement insisting: “We are one people with one family. We all live in the same house…and through books, through meditation, through information, we must find a way to say to people that we must lay down the burden of hate. For hate is too heavy a burden to bear.”  

The following is Dr. Marina Khubesrian’s full statement announcing she will not seek a third term in the November election:

I am announcing that I will not be running for a third term on the South Pasadena City Council. Having served the residents of the City for nearly 10 years, this is not a decision I make lightly. Going forward I plan to focus my energies with advocacy groups for environmental, economic, and housing justice.

After careful consideration, my family and I have decided that it is time for us to renew our commitment and focus on family, friends and advocating for causes we truly value on a local, national, and global level.

I want to extend a heart-felt ’Thank You!’ to all my supporters who have stood alongside me to help our Great City move forward into a more just and sustainable future for all of us.

I value and cherish the strong relationships I have built with so many wonderful people – many members of the South Pasadena community – during this phase of my public service.

It has been an honor serving South Pasadena as Councilmember these past 9 years and as Mayor in 2014 and 2019.

I love raising my family here and am grateful for the support and sacrifice of my partner, Mark, and my children, Sofie and Max, during this time.

We love this charming city with its walkable neighborhoods, tree-lined streets and all the neighbors, teachers, activists, and public servants that make up our vibrant community. 

I am proud to have led during a time of important transition for the City to a more modern, well-run and inclusive one.

The City of South Pasadena stands ready today for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow with a rebuilt modern professional workforce, more inclusive community, and the 710 Freeway victory behind us freeing up resources for other priorities.

Under my stewardship we have made commendable progress fixing our infrastructures and steered our city towards green and sustainable practices with investments in 100% Renewable-Energy, the Green Action Plan, and Climate Action Plan.

We continue to face a global pandemic with little disruption to City services, delivered meals to seniors, enacted tenant protections, and initiatied prigtams to helping struggling small businesses.

As the City’s representative, I have also enjoyed playing a leadership role in regional partnerships on the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito Vector Control District Board of Trustees and the Arroyo Verdugo Communities Joint Powers Authority. These appointments greatly benefit the interests of South Pasadena residents at negligible cost.

I’m proud to have led the Beyond the 710 Coalition.’ We joined the ‘Measure M Campaign’ and testified before the Metro Board, who voted unanimously to abandon the 710 Tunnel on May 25, 2017. South Pasadena will further benefit from the additional $80 million in transportation funding from Measure R money in addition to the millions from Measure M.

Going forward, I’m looking forward to working on improving the quality of life, safety and security for all as  a private citizen and without the constraints of a public office.

We need to continue making responsible decisions, look for smart housing and mobility solutions, keep our parks, library, community facilities operational as we adapt to new public health and economic realities. 

In the words of the Late Great John Lewis on his decision to choose love: “We are one people with one family. We all live in the same house…and through books, through meditation, through information, we must find a way to say to people that we must lay down the burden of hate. For hate is too heavy a burden to bear.”