Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pasadena; District 4

Khatchik "Chris" Chahinian has been a Pasadena resident for more than 20 years. He is a small business owner, community leader, and father. Chris has served on the board of the Pasadena Community Access Corporation as District 4 representative since 2007. The board oversees the Pasadena Community Network (PCN), a nonprofit multimedia community center. Chris believes in encouraging dialogue and listening to the needs of the community, and has hosted a live weekly television program at PCN for the past five years.

Chris has earned a reputation of leadership and community service. He founded Armenian Identity Harvest, a nonprofit organization that honors the dual heritage and culture of Armenian Americans. Chris was a community partner for the 2010 U.S. Census to help achieve a complete and accurate census count for his district. Chris has been a community supporter of the Armenian Christian Outreach of the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena since 2008. He also served as vice chair and board member of the local branch of the international nongovernmental organization Mission Armenia from 1999 to 2004. Through this organization, Chris coordinated local humanitarian aid for Armenians after the earthquake in 1988. In addition, Chris has been a volunteer chaplain at Huntington Hospital.

Chris has received honors and recognition for his work from Congressman Adam Schiff, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard, among others.

Outside of his community activities, Chris volunteers his time as an AYSO coach. He is fluent in five languages, and loves to read. Chris is a master's degree candidate at San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Chris and his wife Rita are longtime Pasadena residents, and have raised their three children here--all of whom are Pasadena Unified School District students.