As June 7 approaches, the political atmosphere is tensing up in Glendale. June 7 is not only important for the presidential election, but local positions as well. Ardy Kassakhian, the current Glendale City Clerk, is a Democrat running for the 43rd State Assembly seat position.

Earlier in the semester, during government teacher Nicholas Doom’s class, a representative from Kassakhian’s campaign spoke to the about volunteering to do phone banking at his campaign office located on Glenoaks Street.

Kassakhian supports an increase in funding for public schools, creating more affordable housing and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

A majority of the time spent volunteering is phone banking, where students go canvassing door to door on the weekends. Volunteers get call sheets of voters who registered Democratic that live in the 43rd District, which includes Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta and parts of Los Angeles. Students’ goal by the end of the day is to get through at least one call sheet, and get as many “yes” responses for those who will support Kassakhian in the upcoming election.

Many students from Doom’s class have participated in this campaign, as well as the campaign of others. Some students have also gone to Kassakhian’s competitor, Laura Friedman, who is also running as a Democrat for the 43rd State Assembly seat.

Doom has made it a class assignment to volunteer in at least one campaign organization, so eventually all students will have participated in one or more political campaign.

“It is important to encourage people to participate in elections,” said senior Talish Babian, one of the volunteers for Kassakhian’s campaign. “Especially when it is for a candidate I really support and believe in.”