BOARD POSITION

# OF SEATS

ELECTED OR APPOINTED?

QUALIFICATIONS TO
RUN FOR THE SEAT

QUALIFICATIONS TO
VOTE FOR THE SEAT

North Atwater Resident
Representatives
Term: 2 years

CANDIDATES FILED:

Alex Ventura

For the pass 2 years I have served as one of the north Atwater Village representatives. I have gotten to know many of my neighbors and am glad to have this opportunity to help my community and represent this diverse and vibrant section of Atwater Village. I have seen this community evolve into a safer and better community. Northern Atwater Village has its challenges, but with community cohesion, involvement and stewardship, Northern Atwater Village will continue to be a great place to live and work.

John Ciulik

I am seeking election as a North Atwater Resident Representative. I have served in this position since being appointed to fill the seat last year and I am honored to have been allowed this unique opportunity. I have a wide range of experience, having been employed in the private sector, non-profit organizations and educational institutions as well as being a small business owner. I feel that this experience allows me to bring a critical, understanding eye to the problems currently facing our community. If elected, my hope is to not only carry out the defined functions of the position, but to continue participation in the various committees and activities that come out of the Council. My hope is that my experience will help illuminate new ways to bring together the community and to help us get the best out of each other.

Central Atwater Resident
Representatives
Term: 2 years

CANDIDATES FILED:

Karen Knapp

I’ve lived in Atwater Village since buying my home in 2004. I was so happy to have been able find my little house in this wonderful neighborhood. I’ve seen a lot of changes in these eight years, most for the good.
If I am elected I will be an advocate for upholding the charm and small town feel that makes Atwater Village very special. I will encourage community participation to promote neighborhood pride that is so important in keeping a neighborhood vital.

I’ve read that the Council has had trouble with council member attendance lately. Perhaps the Council needs more newcomers who can bring a fresh enthusiasm to the process. I would be honored to be one of those enthusiastic members.

With all that’s going on in the big world, I’d like to help make a difference in a little piece of it.

Thank you.

Karen Knapp

Thomas Moss

Having lived in Atwater Village for over twelve months, I know there is a place in Los Angeles for folks who want to be a part of a strong and growing community. Each day I step outside of my home I am taken aback by the progressive attitude, the new businesses, and the growing energy of the neighborhood. With a strong finger on the pulse of the community I am prepared to represent my local residents, the business owners, and the growing young community of the Village as we become one of the “trendier” neighborhoods of Los Angeles area. There is no denying that while the culture of our community holds true, there is an evolving attitude. We need a council member who is in tune with the evolving demographic and who has the ambition to represent the change that is coming to our neighborhood. I am that council member.

South Atwater Resident
Representatives
Term: 2 years

CANDIDATES FILED:

Mario Cardenas

I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I am a proud graduate of Cathedral High School (Go Phantoms). I have a Bachelors of Science, from Azusa Pacific University, in Management Information Systems (MIS).
I have been a community stakeholder since 2000, and anAtwater Village resident since 2009. My wife was born and raised inAtwater Village; her family has lived on the same street in AtwaterVillage since the early 1950’s. We plan to be lifetime residents ofAtwater Village.

I have been an AtwaterVillage Neighborhood Council board member since 2010. I very committed to improving our community by getting involved with issues that affectAtwater Village and its residents.

Ginger Damon

I have been an active member of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council and my community for 4 years. I have been involved as an Arts and Education chair, brought a community event to Atwater called “Get your chops back” a program reuniting community musicians together in a jazz ensemble. I have been a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate for two years, advocating recommendations to City elected to maintain necessary services that sustain our communities. ( ie-N.C. funding, street services etc) I love our community of Atwater Village and I will always work hard for the community!

James Huegas

My wife and I recently decided to settle in Atwater and raise our family here. Since making that decision a year ago we have been welcomed in with open arms by many of our neighbors. We have also taken part in the numerous neighborhood events. I feel that my background as a civil engineer with significant public land planning and land use experience would provide the council and community with a knowledgeable and impartial view of key local development issues. I would appreciate any opportunity to assist the neighborhood council but feel that it would be a true honor to represent the south Atwater community by taking a seat on the council. I will repay the trust put in me but working diligently to represent the needs and concerns of all of Atwater’s residents.

Rueben Martinez

Courtney Morris

Hello! My name is Courtney Morris and I am running for South Atwater Villagerepresentative. I have lived in Atwater Villagefor 3 years now and own a multi-family property on Glenhurst Ave. I would love to be part of the neighborhood council to help increase community participation in neighborhood events. I believe my strengths working with small budgets in the entertainment industry would be an asset to this council. I am enchanted by this neighborhood, the people who live here, and the businesses that line our streets. It would be an honor to be a voice for this wonderful community.

Jayden Brant

I am seeking appointment as the South Atwater Resident Representative. I currently reside in Atwater Village with my wife and two children working in venture capital and business development. I have previously served on four homeowner association boards and am currently involved with the formation of the Casitas Village Homeowner Association where I currently reside. As an early resident of the revitalized Downtown Long Beach, I worked with local developers, the neighborhood council, and the city council to realize the community’s vision. As a former Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, my primary focus would be public safety. I feel that I could bring the most value to this area by utilizing my knowledge and experience within the law enforcement community. However, living within the Atwater Crossing community, promoting cultural activities and a great neighborhood feel are a priority for me and my family.

Sincerely,
Jayden Brant

CANDIDATES FILED:

Brad Balduff

As a 20+ year resident of Atwater Village I want to use my business experience, my property management experience and my love for our community to preserve everything we love about our neighborhoods and helpAtwater grow and prosper.

My business acumen and experience helping businesses, charities, not for profits and homeowners’ associations with everything from construction projects to accounting to technology challenges has afforded me the necessary skills and appreciation of community involvement to be a great representative for our community.

I will bring my Can Do / How Can I Help attitude and my extensive experience to this position and work with other council members and the community to preserve and protectAtwater Village and help us prosper.

Are you looking for a dedicated neighbor with extensive business, community and preservation experience to be your representative? I ask for your vote.

Jerry Hoffman

My core philosophy as a business stakeholder and real estate expert is to leave a neighborhood better than we found it. I work closely and have a great relationship with our local business owners and neighbors, and during my last term I have found a company and budgeted trash pick-up along our main business district (Glendale Blvd.) worked closely with the anti-graffiti police and have reduced it substantially in North Atwater, and have initiated several beautification/improvement projects for the neighborhood where my business resides. Currently, I am bringing Atwater Village’s first Jazz Festival in October which is branded as a neighborhood council event.

Aram Adjemiam

My name is Aram Adjemianm and I have been a resident of Atwater Village since 1985. I grew up in this great neighborhood and have seen the changes that have happened throughout the years. I am currently the Business Representative for Atwater Village and am running for a new term to help develop more businesses and bring forth growth for the existing ones in beautiful Atwater Village.

CANDIDATES FILED:

Torin Dunnavant

My wife and I consider ourselves very lucky to live in AtwaterVillage. We feel that it is the best neighborhood in LA. We enjoy the spirit of the neighborhood, the great shops and restaurants, our neighbors, and the river. As the Senior Manager of Community Engagement at TreePeople, I believe deeply in the power of communities. TreePeople is an LA non-profit that empowers communities to make positive changes through neighborhood improvement projects, such as planting trees and working with schools. During the six months of serving on this Neighborhood Council, I have seen how passionate my fellow board members are for our neighborhood. If re-elected to the board, I will seek to bring more natural beauty to our neighborhood, and more connectedness between our neighbors.

Lara Pranger

I have been a part of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council for the past few years and feel strongly about our community outreach programs. I have been involved with the Treelighting, Halloween Boo-levard and Summer Nights events and have organized the Atwater Village Summer Movie Nights event for the past 3 years. I am also currently serving as Treasurer. I am submitting my name for consideration for another term so that I can help make sure these fabulous outreach programs continue to bring our neighbors together and showcase Atwater Village for everyone as the wonderful community we are.

Connie Choi

As a resident of Atwater Village, I truly believe that it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles. And as a long-time Angeleno, I know my neighborhoods!

It’s one of the few neighborhoods in LA that feels like a community. I love that I can walk just a few blocks and encounter great restaurants and cafes, one of my favorite bookstores (go Alias!), and a vibrant farmer’s market on Sundays – and all the while, run into neighbors and friends whose company and friendship I treasure.

I appreciate the diverse make-up of our neighborhood. As an attorney at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, I counsel and work with immigrants everyday to advocate for their rights and to better their lives in the U.S. Several of them live right here in Atwater Village. If elected to the board, I will further seek to engage with the diverse community here.

CANDIDATES FILED:

Bruce Fleenor

I have enjoyed serving on the Atwater VillageNeighborhood Council for six years. I am currently the co-chair and am looking forward to serving with the incoming board.

CANDIDATES FILED:

Luis Lopez

I am small business owner and operator of Luis Lopez Automotive, an automotive repair business on Fletcher Dr. In addition to working on cars I also enjoy working on solving community problems. For over a decade I have continuously been involved with several Atwater non-profit groups working on community based issues, projects and political advocacy efforts.

Since 2001 I have been an active board member of Atwater’s Chamber of Commerce and have deep roots in the local business community. I’m also an active member of Friends of Atwater Village, a local 501 (3) non-profit group dedicated to the preservation and beautification of Atwater Village. In 2011 I co-authored the photographical history book “Images of America: Atwater Village”.

I’m simply a guy that loves Atwater Village… Vote Luis Lopez!