Bozajian seeks third council term




James Bozajian

James Bozajian


By Michael Picarella
pic@theacorn.com

Two-term Calabasas City Councilmember James Bozajian, 39, says a good city council leader must be accessible, keep an open mind, and maintain a professional, respectful demeanor at all times.


Bozajian, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, says he has not missed a city council meeting—or even one vote—since first elected in 1997.


"Of all the accomplishments and goals I could enumerate, nothing is more important to me than dedication and positive interaction," Bozajian said.


"Not only do I personally respond to all communications from constituents, but I make it a priority to regularly attend and enthusiastically participate in local homeowners association meetings and community events."


Bozajian is an active member of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, the Calabasas Historical Society, the Friends of the Calabasas Library, the Leonis Adobe Association, the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation, the California District Attorneys Association, the Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys and other groups.


He’s one of three incumbents and four challengers vying for three seats which will be filled March 8. If reelected, Bozajian said he’d stay on top of budget concerns because of recent state pressure to trim city budgets.


The councilmember also said he will seek broader, regional solutions to meet the city’s transportation demands; will work to complete the Calabasas Civic Center in a timely and cost-effective manner; and will make sure that what the city builds will reflect the desires and expectations of the community.


Bozajian said community involvement is very important to him. He’s participated in the Calabasas Players theater productions, he wrote the "Citizens’ Guide to Calabasas" in 2000 and he helped found the Calabasas Teen Court, which handles teen matters through an educational court program.


Bozajian has even sat as judge on several trials and plans to do so in the future.


He said he’s proud to say that he attends nearly every city event.


"In a small city, I think it’s important for the people to see that you’re out there and that you’re participating actively in community events," Bozajian said.


"If you just sit around at city hall and come to the meetings twice a month, you don’t really get the level of depth (in Calabasas)," he said. "We have some very distinct communities with very different issues in our city. And some of those issues won’t get heard just from a council member who waits for those concerns to come to him or her."


Bozajian takes his work seriously, but finds that it’s not always just work. Asked why he’s running again, he said, "I really do enjoy the job. I think I’ve done a good job, but I think there’s still a lot of unfinished business in the city. I want to be there for Calabasas’ future."


The council candidate sought election endorsements from outside the city. He said, "I think it’s important because I want the community to know that they’re well represented outside the city. Being a small city, we do rely on other entities to help us out and we must work with other agencies.


"(Voters) want to have (a city representative) out there who is known, who works well with other people, and who is willing to travel outside the city to make those contacts and keep up those relationships."


Bozajian, one of the leaders of the city who helped protect Ahmanson Ranch from major development, said he wants to continue the preservation of open space and the "Calabasas way of life."


"As your councilmember for the past eight years, I have consistently fought to preserve the ‘small town’ atmosphere that makes Calabasas such a unique and beautiful place to live," Bozajian said.


"If reelected to a third term, I will continue to work cooperatively with community leaders to guard against overdevelopment, maintain high public safety standards, and enhance the excellent academic reputation of our schools."


Bozajian received a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, and graduated from USC Law School. He has worked as a prosecutor at the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office since 1990, and currently is serving his 13th term as an elected board member of the Los Angeles County Association of Deputy District Attorneys. He was president of the group from 1996 to 1997.


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