Glendale News Press
June 7, 2006
Calls, letter bring anger
*Frank Quintero campaign says it has nothing to do with campaign mailing.
By Fred Ortega, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — A campaign mailing and phone calls linking Assembly
candidate Paul Krekorian and the Armenian National Committee to a
terrorism suspect convicted of weapons charges has many community
leaders outraged and some crying racism.
The calls and mailers, sent out by the Oakland-based California Latino
Leadership Fund, were delivered to thousands of Glendale and Burbank
area voters in the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary. The mailers
feature a mug shot of Mourad Topalian, a former Armenian National
Committee chairman who pleaded guilty for possession of stolen
explosives and two machine guns in Ohio in 2000, according to FBI
records.
The postcard-sized campaign piece also states that Krekorian accepted
the Armenian National Committee’s endorsement in his run for the State
Assembly and helped get “[Armenian National Committee] books and
literature into libraries for schoolchildren.”
“It is very sad whenever any campaign is tainted with tactics that
appeal to hatred and bigotry,” Krekorian said. “I think people care
about what matters to all Californians, which is improving education,
providing healthcare to everyone and protecting the environment — not
personal attacks and character assassination.”
The Armenian National Committee “books and literature” cited in the
mailer were actually 1,000 books in Armenian and English about
Armenian culture and history that were donated to the Burbank Library
system at the request of library officials to expand their
international section, he said, adding that the Burbank City Council
honored his wife Tamar Krekorian and the committee for their efforts
in securing the books.
The sinister undertone of the mailings contrast sharply with the true
spirit of the Armenian National Committee, said Zanku Armenian, board
member of the committee’s Western Region based in Glendale.
Topalian, who the FBI suspect was a leader of the Justice Commandos of
the Armenian Genocide, resigned his post after the charges surfaced,
Armenian said.
“We live in a country in which you are innocent until proven guilty,”
Armenian said, adding that Topalian was never convicted of terrorism
charges, only weapons possession. “At the time he was chairman and
started having these troubles, he resigned so he could deal with his
personal issues without dragging down the [Armenian National
Committee]. These matters have nothing to do with the organization,
which has a mission to represent and give voice to the Armenian
American community within the American political system.”
Armenian further suggested that Krekorian’s opponent for the
democratic nomination, City Councilman Frank Quintero, and outgoing
43rd Assembly District Rep. Dario Frommer, who has endorsed Quintero,
were somehow connected to the mailers.
“We had been hearing rumblings coming from Sacramento that Quintero
and Frommer had a ‘killer issue’ that would swing the race and we were
hoping our information was wrong, but it is now our firm belief that
Quintero knew all about it,” he said. “We believe that they were
firmly behind the scenes and this sort of dirty campaign tactics are
the last gasp of breath of a failing candidate at the end of his
political career.”
Under state law it would be illegal for Quintero’s campaign to
coordinate with a separate entity on an independent expenditure such
as the mailers in question. The California Latino Leadership Fund
spent more than $18,000 in independent expenditures opposing
Krekorian, and more than $30,000 on similar expenditures to support
Quintero, according to campaign finance records from the Secretary of
State’s office.
Both Frommer and Quintero denied any knowledge or involvement with the
Latino Leadership Fund or its activities, and each sent letters to
fund officials expressing the disapproval of the mailer.
“I am disgusted that this organization, which by law has no
affiliation with my campaign, has sent out such a hurtful message,”
Quintero said in a statement. “The mailer does not reflect anything
that I believe in or stand for.”
California Latino Leadership Fund officials did not return calls
seeking comment.
The group has received funding from tribal gaming groups, Pacific Gas
and Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Inc., and Cendant Corp., among
others.
The mailings and phone campaign have done much to damage the
relationship between Glendale’s Armenian and Latino communities,
Glendale Unified School District Board member Mary Boger said.
“The city and school district have worked closely together to create
harmony in our community,” said Boger, who received the controversial
phone calls at her home. “Whomsoever is responsible for this hate mail
and hate speech has undermined years of work and has no right to seek
a leadership position.”
Glendale Community College Trustee Victor King, Glendale Democratic
Club President Laurie Collins and Glendale Historical Commission
Chairwoman Deborah Dentler also released a statement condemning the
phone calls and mailings.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. Councilman Eric Garcetti,
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff and Quintero all denounced the attacks.
* FRED ORTEGA covers City Hall. He may be reached at (818) 637-3235 or
by e-mail at [email protected].