Geoff Hovivian

Geoff Hovivian said he wants to bring “fresh” ideas to the city council. He’ll be 32 in September, and if elected, he would become the youngest person currently serving on the council.

As the deadline to file approached in May, no one had put their name in to run for the position. Hovivian got a call from a friend encouraging him to run, but while working two jobs and volunteering as a firefighter — he works construction for Greg Anderson Construction and is an EMT with Powell Valley Healthcare — he said he really didn’t have time.

He eventually got another call from another friend who also encouraged him to run. He decided to go ahead and file and later learned that James Andrews, owner of the Red Zone Sports Bar and Grill, had also filed to run.

Hovivian said he doesn’t have any specific plans as to what he’d do should he win the position. He said he’ll mainly just listen to what constituents tell him.

“Bring your concerns to me. I’m all ears,” he said.

He also believes, since Powell is a college town, it needs more things to do, including more restaurants.

“I think Powell needs a boost,” he said.

Hovivian is originally from Los Angeles, California. His mother passed away when he was 13, and his father found it difficult to raise four kids. Hovivian was sent to Fort Shiloh Boys Home in Clark.

He took a first responder course and showed a strong aptitude for that type of work. He was soon enrolled in an EMT course. He’s been working at PVHC for the past 13 years.

“I love helping people,” he said, adding, “The satisfaction of helping someone in their darkest times is pretty satisfactory.”

About five years ago, his friend Greg Anderson asked him if he wanted to spend a day off helping pour concrete. Hovivian needed to make some more money, so he agreed. Not long after, Anderson asked him to help put up trusses. Five years later, Hovivian is still working full time with Greg Anderson Construction.