A 28-year-old cybersecurity professional for the Walt Disney Co. and lifelong resident of Burbank has announced his candidacy for City Council.
Hovanes Tonoyan said he wants to transform Burbank into the next mecca of entrepreneurship and innovation, leveraging the momentum of local grassroots interest groups and private-public partnerships throughout the community.
“I’m as true a product of Burbank as anyone can find, and I am proud to say this is the only city on the planet I call home,” Tonoyan said.
Raised in Burbank since early childhood, Tonoyan graduated in Burbank High School’s Class of 2014 before earning a bachelor of arts degree in political science from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining Disney, he served as a project manager for New Frontier Data, one of the world’s first market research firms devoted to the emergence of legal cannabis in the U.S. and across the world.
“My life, my sense of community and my drive to grow as a person changed immensely 10 years ago on this very weekend, and everything I’ve done since then has been driven by a desire to serve this community and care for and support my fellow neighbors of Burbank,” Tonoyan said in his May 31 announcement. “My grandparents and I experienced the joy of graduation, but this was followed days later by the pain of being a victim of violent crime when our family home was tragically destroyed in a fire as a result of crime targeted against us and our hillside neighbors. We had to rebuild our lives independently, and helping Burbank do more to prevent crime and support victims are among my top priorities.”
In his career, Tonoyan has also gained experience with the California State Assembly, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce and the city of Burbank. Tonoyan said he aims to put this experience to work solving real problems for Burbank by elevating the discussions and mission of the City Council.
Tonoyan joins real estate agent Christopher Rizzotti and former Assistant City Manager Judie Wilke in the race for one of two soon-to-be open seats on the dais in the upcoming election on Nov. 5.
First published in the June 8 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
