July 5, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hratch Aynedjian seeks Toronto city council seat in Ward 41, Scarborough-Rouge River

Toronto—Hratch Aynedjian today will announce his candidacy for Toronto city councillor in Ward 41, Scarborough-Rouge River at 12:30 p.m. in the Toronto City Hall Media Lounge after registering to officially enter the race this morning.

A long-time political staffer, Aynedjian has worked across partisan stripes and multiple levels of government over the past 16 years, spending the last 10 years as executive assistant to three Scarborough-area Toronto city councillors, non-concurrently.

"I am excited about my campaign and look forward to listening to and learning from Scarborough-Rouge River residents over the coming months," says Aynedjian, who yesterday resigned as executive assistant to city councillor Raymond Cho.

Cho was supportive of Aynedjian's bid to represent the ward adjacent to his in the larger Scarborough-Rouge River riding. "Hratch is exactly what Ward 41 needs: an intelligent, dedicated community champion," says Cho.

Aynedjian was executive assistant to then-city councillor Brad Duguid, now Scarborough Centre Liberal MPP, helping in the fight to ensure Scarborough homeowners were receiving fair current value assessments following Toronto's amalgamation.

In 2003-2004, Aynedjian was budget assistant to Toronto’s budget chief, city councillor David Soknacki, and helped rescue the city from an operating budget crisis that would have resulted in larger property tax increases.

Aynedjian is also launching his campaign website at www.hratch.ca

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For more information, please contact:

Hratch Aynedjian, Ward 41 Candidate, 416-728-6191
Shaun Chen, Campaign Manager, 647-897-7809

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June 30, 2006

Scarborough Mirror: "Aynedjian is sixth candidate in Ward 41 race"

By David Nickle

Hratch Aynedjian, a former political assistant to Scarborough Centre MPP Brad Duguid will be seeking to replace Bas Balkissoon in Ward 41 this fall.

Aynedjian, who is currently working in Ward 42 Councillor Raymond Cho (Scarborough-Rouge River)'s office at City Hall, will officially launch his campaign in the vacant ward next week. A long-time associate of Brad Duguid when he was a councillor, Aynedjian has been a fixture at Toronto City Hall for many years. In 2003-2004, he helped the city's budget chief David Soknacki with his first budget.

Now, he said in an interview with The Mirror, the time is right to cross the floor.

"Bas is there no longer and we need good representation, and I think I am better than all the other candidates so far—I have lots to offer with my experience," he said.

The Lebanese-born Aynedjian made no secret of the fact that he regards Duguid as a mentor—although Duguid has not endorsed his candidacy officially and Aynedjian doesn't expect him to.

Aynedjian will be taking a leave of absence from Cho's office.

Aynedjian will become the sixth person seeking the Ward 41 seat.