The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) congratulates the 18 Armenian-American California assembly district delegates elected on January 10-11, 2015.

The California Democratic Party convenes assembly district election meetings in each of California’s 80 assembly districts biennially, in which 14 individuals (comprised equally of 7 men and 7 women) are elected to represent their districts.

Last weekend’s elections spurred an unprecedented turnout of Armenian American voters in various districts throughout California whose participation resulted in the victories of Armenian-American delegates to the upcoming State Democratic Convention. According to preliminary results, an unprecedented 739 ballots were cast during the two-hour voting period in the 43^rd Assembly District alone. The cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, as well as the Los Feliz and Little Armenia neighborhoods of Los Angeles are represented in the 43^rd district.

“We are proud of our grassroots’ steadfast mobilization and active participation during last weekend’s assembly district election meetings. Voting for well-informed delegates is of critical importance as they are tasked with endorsing candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office, voting to endorse resolutions and ballot measures, and attending the party’s annual conventions,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian. “It is imperative that our Armenian-American communities’ interests are well-represented throughout these processes,” added Hovespian.

The election’s preliminary results in the 43^rd Assembly District recorded all 14 candidates of the Democrats United Slate victorious. The democrats on the slate are: Elen Asatryan, Aline Babaian, Jordan Del Guercio, Mijin Fernandes, Jamie Garcia, Malcolm Johnson, Berdj Karapetian, Silva Kechichian, Leonard Manoukian, Shant Sahakian, Judith Smith, Steven Widdon, Gary Willis, and Tereza Yerimyan. Voters elected delegate Berdj Karapetian to the influential Executive Board of the State Central Committee.

“During the voting, I was struck by the outpouring of support. The voting line was full of people from every group found in our diverse and wonderful district. After the vote, I was impressed by my colleagues, the candidates of the Democrats United slate, almost every one of whom stayed until the very end to oversee the vote tally and make certain that the will of the voters was accurately reflected in the election results. It is precisely this kind of resoluteness that the Democrats of the 43rd AD can expect from every one of us in the next two years. I am proud to serve the Democrats of the 43rd AD and California,” remarked elected delegate Leonard Manoukian.

Similarly, the 41^st Assembly district witnessed a large turnout resulting in 5 Armenian-Americans being elected to serve as delegates.  The elected democrats in the 41^st AD include: Joanne Wendler, Michelle Bailey, Darla Dyson, Alex Zucco, Linda Baker, Aida Dimejian, Teresa Lamb Simpson, Tim Wendler, John Harabedian, Hoyt Hilsman, Peter Baker, Gar Byrum, Sahag Yedalian and Garen Kirakosian, who were all part of a united slate.

The 41st Assembly District encompasses the cities of Altadena, Claremont, East Pasadena, La Verne, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, San Antonio Heights and Upland.

Other Armenian-Americans elected during last weekend’s election meeting included: Aram Kaloustian (AD 46); Deanna Minasian (AD 06); Eleanor Garabedian (AD 23); Nareg Khodanian, Marie Khatchaderian (AD 39)l and Murad Minasian (AD 58).

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.