Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) and its local chapters have congratulated Felipe Fuentes on becoming the newest member of the California State Assembly. Fuentes was elected to represent the 39th State Assembly District in a Special Election which took place on May 15, 2007. Fuentes had spent more than a decade as a Deputy Mayor in the Hahn administration and had served as Chief of Staff to former city council president and now State Senator Alex Padilla. The Special Election was held on May 15, 2007 to fill the vacant seat left by former Assemblymember Richard Alarcón, who is now a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

“The ANCA-WR congratulates Assemblymember Fuentes and looks forward to working with him on issues of concern to our community,” commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR.

The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Fuentes grew up in the Northeast San Fernando Valley attending local public schools before going on to the University of California at Los Angeles, where he earned his B.A, and Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University, where he earned an MBA. Soon after graduating Fuentes began his career promoting immigrant and children’s rights through the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. In 1999, Fuentes began serving the 7th council district as a field deputy, working with the grassroots leadership of the district. In 2001, Fuentes was appointed Deputy Mayor of the San Fernando Valley. Fuentes then went on to serve the 7th council district as Council President Padilla’s Chief of Staff. In that post, Fuentes has been an integral part of the construction and revitalization of the Northeast Valley’s police and fire stations, libraries, and infrastructure improvements.

Fuentes enjoyed the support and backing of many prominent politicians including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman Brad Sherman, Senator Alex Padilla, Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

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

Photo Caption: Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-39).