Candidate for
District Attorney; County of Fresno

I was born on December 3, 1967, at Fresno Community Hospital. My parent's, Doris & Stanley Kooyumjian, have been married 48 years. I have one sister, Dawn, who is a professional musician and landscape architect. Dawn works for the University of California, Berkeley.

My parents and I graduated from California State University, Fresno. My mother is a school teacher employed by the Fresno Unified School District. My father is retired from a long career in the restaurant and market business. Our family owned "Stanley's Armenian Cuisine" restaurant in Fresno and has been involved with other restaurant/business ventures. Stanley's restaurant was developed from the Home Market in Fresno, which was opened in 1903 by my family. The market was located in what is now the left field of the new baseball stadium in downtown Fresno.

I attended Manchester and Wolter's elementary school, Kastner Intermediate, and Clovis West High School. After high school, I attended Fresno State and Mesa College in San Diego, graduating with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, Finance and Legal Environment of Business.

In elementary, intermediate, and high school, I was active in student body organizations, played football for Kastner and Clovis West, played lead trumpet in the marching band and was the first marching bass player in the valley. I was also active in drama, and enjoyed participating in numerous plays. Also, I started my own band (First Glance) in intermediate school which stayed together with various musicians for about eight years.

During college, I married Kathleen Farnsworth. Kathy and I have been married for over 11-years and have two daughters, Lauren (10-years old) and Victoria (8-years old.) We have lived in the Clovis area for about 10-years. Kathy is an LVN at Fresno Community Hospital.

I put myself through college and then law school, while supporting my family. During those years, both my wife and I worked to make ends meet. After graduating from San Joaquin College of Law in 1994, I passed the bar the first time and began my legal career.

I was inspired by several family members to pursue private practice, for a variety of reasons. Particularly my mother's brother, who was a judge in Fresno, provided moral support and advice on how to run my practice. I quickly realized, however, that the only way to get immediate trial practice was trying criminal cases. I participated in my first felony case, a murder allegation in Kern County, before I was an attorney, and went on to try numerous cases in Fresno County and throughout the State. I also developed my civil practice, Federal and State, and have worked as a contract attorney for the County of Fresno.

When spare time is located, I attempt to write and practice music. I also spend quality time with my family, participate in my children's activities, and restore classic cars.