55Mountain View News Saturday, October 24, 2026 55Mountain View News Saturday, October 24, 2026 
SUPERVISOR KATHRYN BARGER CALLS FOR PAUSE ON ELECTED COUNTY 
EXECUTIVE PROPOSAL, PLEDGES NOT TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE 


Los Angeles County Supervisor KathrynBarger today urged the Board to slow 
a rushed governance reform processthat leaves critical questions about cost,
accountability, and constituent servicesunanswered, and pledged that she will notrun for the newly proposed Elected CountyExecutive position. 

Supervisor Barger spotlighted the 
compensation proposed for the future 
Elected County Executive, which mustbe set at least $1 above any other Countyelected officer. Based on current figuresfrom the Department of Human Resourcesand recent adjustments, she estimated theposition could pay roughly $558,000 in 
total annual compensation, with pensioneligibility. She noted that the Governor ofCalifornia earns $245,000, roughly halfthat amount, and the County Executivewill not be subject to term limits. 

“With a $54 billion budget, more than110,000 employees, no term limits, andno professional credentials required, theelected County Executive will be one ofthe most powerful and most highly paidpoliticians in the entire state of Californiaand perhaps the nation,” Supervisor Bargerstated. 

HARABEDIAN’S FIRST ANNUAL 
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT RAISES FUNDS FOR 
ALTADENA’S LONG-TERM RECOVERY 

All proceeds from the community tournament will benefit the Altadena Builds Back Foundation 
as residents continue rebuilding after the Eaton Fire. 

Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) hosted his first annual district pickleball 
tournament with one goal in mind: raise money for Altadena’s long-term recovery 21 months 
after the Eaton Fire. 

All funds raised through the tournament will go to the Altadena Builds Back Foundation to 
support the community's ongoing recovery. Many Altadena residents continue to face the 
financial challenges of rebuilding their homes, navigation insurance claims, and finding 
a way to remain in the community they call home. Recovery takes years, and sustained 
support is critical to helping families rebuild and preventing longtime residents from being 
priced out of Altadena. 

“Altadena still has a long road to recovery, and we can’t lose sight of the families who are 
still trying to rebuild their homes and their lives. That’s why we made raising money for 
Altadena the focus of this tournament. I’m grateful to everyone who came out to support 
the cause, and I look forward to bringing everyone back together next year to continue that 
support. Congratulations to Mayor Hobson and La Cañada Flintridge on taking home our 
first championship belt,” said Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena). 

Citing the potential for conflicts of interest,
since the current Board authored the 
measure that created the office, SupervisorBarger announced she will not run for 
Elected County Executive and called on hercolleagues to make the same public pledge.
She also asked County Counsel and thenewly formed Ethics Commission to opineon conflicts that could arise when officials 
vote to create and empower a position theymight later seek. “If we are approving thesereforms, we should do so in a way that isnot self-serving to any of us,” she said. 

On the proposed County LegislativeAnalyst, Supervisor Barger questionedwhy the Task Force is asking to acceleratethe office’s launch to October 2027–more 
than a year ahead of the timeline inMeasure G –without a cost estimate. “The 
Board adopting the recommendations 
today is essentially signing a blank check,”
Supervisor Barger said. “That is neither aresponsible nor transparent way to govern.” 

Supervisor Barger also noted that 
community input and involvement 
throughout this process has not been asrobust as needed, with only a handful ofindividuals present in person and onlineduring public meetings and comment 


periods. In addition, Measure G narrowlypassed with only 51.6% voters in support. 

Supervisor Barger cautioned that the 
proposed County governance structurecould delay and weaken responsiveness 
to constituents, particularly in 
unincorporated communities. “We cannot 
compromise services and responsiveness 
to our unincorporated regions,” she said,
citing her office’s work on North Countyroad improvements, homeless outreach,
and the rebuilding of Altadena after theEaton Fire. 
Hours before today’s meeting, the 
Supervisors received a letter demanding,
among other things, that the Countyimmediately cease all spending to 
operationalize the Office of the CountyExecutive. Supervisor Barger cited the letterin voicing her strong support for pausingthe Governance Reform Task Force (GRTF)
recommendations until January 2027. 

Ultimately, this set of GRTF 
recommendations on the Elected 
County Executive, Office of Budget andManagement, and County LegislativeAnalyst (Item 18 on today’s Board agenda)
was continued for 90 days by a majority ofthe Board 4-0-1, with one abstention. 

The tournament brought together local leaders, organizations, and community members for a day of friendly competition in support of a cause that continues to matter across the district. 

20-YEAR-OLD MAN 
SUSPECTED OF FATALLY 
SHOOTING HIS 15-YEAR-OLD 
GIRLFRIEND AT HER HOME IN 
ARCADIA AND WHO LATER 
ATTEMPTED TO TAKEHIS OWN 
LIFE IN PASADENA REMAINS 
HOSPITALIZED

 Paul Anthony Cruz was arrested after suffering a self-
inflicted gunshot wound as police were preparing to contacthim at about noon on Thursday at 845 S. Arroyo Parkway inPasadena in connection with the shooting death of the teen,
identified by the Los Angeles County medical examiner's 
office as Mina Kurdian.

 Cruz is suspected of breaking into the Arcadia home ofthe girl, who he was dating, Thursday morning and fatallyshooting her.

 Arcadia police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's 
Department homicide detectives were summoned at about11 a.m. to her residence on the 800 block of West HuntingtonDrive. 

Cruz was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and 
had not been logged into Los Angeles County Sheriff's 
Department's online inmate information as of Friday 
morning.

 The motive for the killing remains under investigation.

 Several bystanders were in the area when Cruz shothimself. Workers from an auto shop across the street toldABC7 that they heard a shot, then ran outside to see policeofficers approach a person to handcuff him.

 ``We look out the window, there's this guy, he's laying face 
down on the floor,'' Michael Amini, manager at AllianceAuto Body Works, told the station. ``A couple seconds later,
police officers show up and they close off the area.'' (CNS) 


BRANDON KARMANN RETURNS TO ARCADIA AS CHIEF OF POLICE 

(ARCADIA, CA) – The City of Arcadia isproud to announce Brandon Karmann hasbeen selected to serve as Chief of Police. 
A 24-year law enforcement veteran, Chief 
Karmann returns to the Arcadia Police 
Department, where he first served in 2002. 

“Returning to Arcadia as Chief of Policeis deeply meaningful to me. This is wheremy law enforcement career began, and I’mhonored to return and serve the department,
the City, and the community,” Chief 
Karmann said. “I believe our employeesare our greatest asset. When people feelsupported, respected, and empowered to do 
their jobs well, the entire organization growsstronger and the community benefits. I lookforward to working alongside our dedicatedemployees, building strong relationships 
with our community, and continuing to 
make Arcadia a safe and welcoming place foreveryone.” 

Chief Karmann most recently served as apolice captain with the West Covina PoliceDepartment, where he spent more than 
two decades in leadership, investigative,
and administrative roles. He oversaw majoroperations and led improvements in training, community engagement, and department technology, including upgrading the

dispatch and records systems and expanding body-worn and in-car cameras. 

Chief Karmann succeeds former Chief Roy Nakamura, who retired in July after 34 years of service. City Manager Dominic 
Lazaretto appointed Chief Karmann following a nationwide search. 

“This is a full-circle moment for Chief Karmann, and I am excited to welcome him back to Arcadia to lead the Police 
Department,” said City Manager Dominic Lazaretto. “His background reflects a strong commitment to collaborativeleadership and community policing, and I look forward to seeing him build upon the Department’s successes and longstandingpartnerships. As we welcome this next chapter of leadership, I also want to recognize and thank Police Captains John Bonomoand Kollin Cieadlo, who each stepped up to serve as Interim Chief during this transition.” 

Chief Karmann holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in criminologyfrom the University of La Verne. 

Karmann became Arcadia’s 31st police chief on October 19, 2026. 


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