SANTA MONICA, Calif. – A broad and diverse group of Armenian National Committee of America supporters gathered at the home of longtime community benefactor Ashkhen Pilavjian on September 25, 2015 in the City of Santa Monica to support the congressional campaign of Republican California State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian. Katcho is running to represent the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo area in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We are so pleased that so many Armenian Americans are coming out to support Katcho,” remarked longtime Armenian National Committee of America supporter Peklar Pilavjian. “Katcho is, above all, a fine legislator, distinguished public servant and an all around nice person. It is our hope that in November 2016 that the good voters of California’s 24th Congressional District will send Katcho packing his bags for a new and very important job in Washington, DC,” added another longtime ANCA supporter Vahrij Pilavjian.
The event at the Pilavjian residence in support of Katcho Achadjian is only one of many events his friends and supporters are holding in his State Assembly District and across the State of California to back his congressional aspirations.
California State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian is respected by his legislative colleagues in Sacramento – both Democrats and Republicans – as a thoughtful consensus builder and a highly effective legislator. He is admired – throughout California and across America – as a powerful advocate for the views and values of Americans of Armenian heritage. If elected, he will represent California’s 24th Congressional District, joining two other federal legislators from the Golden State of Armenian background – Anna Eshoo (18th Congressional District) and Jackie Kanchelian Speier (14th Congressional District).
California’s 24th Congressional District, currently represented by retiring Democrat Lois Capps, stretches across Santa Barbara County and San LuisObispo County, as well the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County. Congresswoman Capps narrowly won her last two races, most recently defeating Republican Christopher Mitchum by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1% in November of 2014.
Since joining the California State Assembly, Achadjian has been a pro-active leader on each and every pro-Armenian state-level initiative. He helped lead the historic California State Legislative Delegation visit in 2013 to both the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and served as host for the Nagorno Karabakh Parliamentary Speaker’s visit to the State Capitol. He played a vital role in Calfornia’s recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and was the lead sponsor, in 2012, of Assembly Joint Resolution 34 (AJR 34), which called on the Republic of Turkey to respect religious freedom by returning stolen Armenian Churches and other church properties.
Because of his strong bi-partisan legislative credentials, Achadjian is the only Republican to have been appointed to Chair a committee in the State Legislature. He currently serves as Chair of the Assembly’s Local Government Committee, and as a member of the Assembly Committees on Accountability and Administrative Review, Banking and Finance, Transportation, and Joint Legislative Audit.
Katcho Achadjian holds degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Prior to holding office, Katcho founded a successful local business, where he gained a strong appreciation for the need to streamline government regulations. Prior to joining the State Legislature, he served three terms as an elected member of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Notably, Katcho was also appointed by the Governor of the State of California in 2006 to the powerful California Coastal Commission before joining the State Assembly.
Katcho has been married to his wife Araxie since 1984 and they have a son, Hratch, and daughter, Nyri.
Source: Asbarez
Link: Armenian Americans Unite To Support Congressional Candidate Katcho Achadjian