Van Nuys, CA — The Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) met with Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa on February 21st at his San Fernando Valley campaign headquarters. The meeting focused on the ANCA-WR public affairs agenda, which includes supporting the establishment of a California-Armenia Trade Office and the organization’s work to increase the instruction of the Armenian Genocide in public schools across the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.

ANCA-WR Chairman Steve Dadaian led the meeting by sharing with Villaraigosa the many activities and initiatives being spearheaded by the ANCA-WR and its local ANC chapters. Joining Dadaian at the meeting were ANCA-WR Board Member Raffi Hamparian and longtime ANCA leader Vicken Sonentz-Papazian. Villaraigosa was pleased to learn from the ANCA-WR delegation of the organization’s deep involvement in the civic life of the City of Los Angeles and more broadly, in the State of California. Antonio Villaraigosa is running for Mayor against incumbent James Hahn and a number of other prominent candidates. The primary nominating election in the

Los Angeles mayoral race will be held on March 8, 2005. The general election, which will include the top two mayoral candidates, will occur on May 17, 2005. Antonio Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly, and just four years later, his colleagues in the legislature voted to make him the first Assembly Speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years. After running unsuccessfully for Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 Villaraigosa became a distinguished fellow at UCLA and USC. In 2003 he returned to public service to represent the people of the eastside and northeast Los Angeles communities as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. During his tenure in public office Villaraigosa has consistently enjoyed a positive working relationship with the Armenian American community and the ANCA-WR in particular.

The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working 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.