Adrin Nazarian was born in Iran. As a child, he immigrated with his family to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. He grew up there and graduated from a local Valley school before receiving his BA degree in Economics from UCLA in 1996. Nazarian served as chief of staff to Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represented the communities of Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, North Hollywood and Valley Glen. Previously, Nazarian had served as chief of staff to then-Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian in the California State Assembly, representing the communities of North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Valley Glen and Toluca Lake among others, since 2006. A life-altering experience occurred for Nazarian when he applied to become an interviewer of battered and abused women at the San Fernando Valley Superior CourtDomestic Violence Clinic unit as a summer internship job. There he saw first-hand the results of what happens in the privacy of homes, taking down reports in order to submit restraining orders on behalf of the victims. Upon graduating UCLA, Nazarian participated in the prestigious Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. From 1997-1999, he served as an aide to Congressman Brad Sherman, assisting him with business and labor community issues. In 1999, former Governor Gray Davis appointed Nazarian as Special Assistant to the California Trade and Commerce Agency. During his tenure at the agency, he helped establish the Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, which focused on creating and maintaining technology-based jobs in California. Nazarian has served on the boards of several community-based organizations including the East ValleyYMCA and the YWCA. He was one of the founding members of Generation Next Mentorship program which worked with local public schools to give young people alternatives to a life of gangs and drugs. Nazarian and his wife, Diana, reside in Sherman Oaks with their sons Alex and David.
Political career
California State Assembly 2012
The Campaign
The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, where Nazarian placed in first with 27.5% of the vote defeating a crowded field of 6 candidates; Andrew Lachman, Adriano Lecaros, Brian Johnson, Laurette Healey, and Jay Stern. On November 6, 2012, Nazarian handily won over his opponent Jay Stern with the support of 71% of the voting electorate.
On December 3, 2012, Adrin Nazarian was inaugurated into the California State Assembly, representing the 46th district, encompassing the central-southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Education, Health, Rules, and Transportation. Assemblymember Nazarian also sits on the State Allocation Board.
