California Courier Online, June 15, 2006

1 – Commentary

Krekorian Wins Election Despite
Vicious Anti-Armenian Hate Mail
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Orange County Armenian Professionals
Honor Mark Geragos at Spring Luncheon
3 – French President
Plans September
Visit to Armenia
4 – Chamlian School Science Fair Finalists
Visit Archbishop Prelate Mardirossian
5 – Cilician Catholicosate Donates $100,000
For Construction of Cathedral in Stepanakert
6 – Garikian University
Scholarship Fund
Applications Available
7- Vahan Chamlian Receives
Ellis Island Medal of Honor
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1 – Commentary
Krekorian Wins Election Despite
Vicious Anti-Armenian Hate Mail

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

In an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the election of an Armenian American
candidate in the Democratic Primary for the 43rd Assembly District of
California, the California Latino Leadership Fund (CLLF) sent an ugly mailer last week
that tarnished the image of the entire Armenian American community. The 43rd
District includes Glendale, Burbank, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Los Feliz,
Griffith Park, Toluca Lake, Atwater Village and Valley Glen.
Just before last Tuesday’s election, tens of thousands of non-Armenian
voters received postcards as well as phone calls warning them against voting for
Paul Krekorian, a Burbank Board of Education Member, because he was endorsed by
the Armenian National Committee (ANC). The postcards and the phone calls were
clearly meant to scare off the voters by linking Krekorian and the ANC to “A
suspected terrorist.” While the postcard, as required by law, mentioned the
name of the group (CLLF) that sent it, the phone call did not identify its
sponsor, in violation of California campaign laws. The phone message unabashedly
stated: “There is no place in the State Assembly for Paul Krekorian.”
On the eve of the primary election, pitting Krekorian against Frank
Quintero, a Glendale City Councilman, the contemptible mailer and the subsequent phone
call drove the local Armenian community into absolute frenzy. Just about
every local Armenian cable show devoted the final 48 hours of the campaign to
denouncing this ugly attack on the Armenian community, pointing to Quintero as
being behind the mailer and phone call, even though he had many Armenian
supporters and contributors, had been endorsed by the ANC in the past, and had visited
Armenia and the Armenian community in Lebanon. Krekorian won the primary with
14,137 votes (57%). Quintero received 10,863 votes (43%). Krekorian will face
Republican Michael Agbaba in November. Given the overwhelming majority of the
Democratic voters in the 43rd District, Krekorian is expected to win handily
an Assembly seat.
Quintero himself denounced the CLLF’Ss mailer. In a message he posted on his
campaign website, he said: “I am disgusted that this organization, which by
law has no affiliation with my campaign, has sent out such a hurtful message.
The mailer does not reflect anything that I believe in or stand for.” Quintero
wrote to the CLLF one day before the election condemning the mailer and
calling it “completely out of line.” He also wrote to the California Attorney
General asking for an immediate investigation “to establish responsibility.”
When asked by this writer if he knew of the mailer in advance or had
anything to do with it, Quintero said that he was told by three Armenian friends a
couple of weeks before the election that they had heard talk of anti-Armenian
mailers to be sent to local voters. He said he did not take the rumors
seriously. This writer pointed out to him, however, that in the message he posted on
his campaign website condemning the anti-Armenian mailer, he should not have
blamed the Krekorian campaign for it, by describing it as “another one of the
Krekorian campaign dirty tricks.”
After the mailers went out, no one seemed to be able to identity the
California Latino Leadership Fund. The postcard mailed by the CLLF carried a
non-descript address in Oakland, California. The only indirect connection between the
Quintero campaign and the CLLF is found on the website of the California
Secretary of State showing that the CLLF had reported spending (through May 25)
$18,433 on a mailer to oppose Paul Krekorian and $31,566 on a mailer to support
Quintero. These sums were paid to Polka Consulting. Sandi Polka is listed as a
political consultant to California State Senate President Don Perata.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission website disclosed the
names of three individuals as the registered officials of CLLF. Stacy E. Owens is
listed as the treasurer of the group. A further search on google indicated
that Owens is also the treasurer of the Paul N McCloskey, Jr. for Congress
Campaign Committee in Northern California. The assistant treasurer of CLLF is Henry
C. Levy, a CPA in Oakland, CA. Finally, the president of CLLF is Rebeca E.
Barron. A google search disclosed that Barron is the “Big Cheese” of The Barron
Collection Ltd., a company in Seattle, Washington that now has four showrooms
that sell various home accessories. Both The Barron Collection and Ms.
Barron’s husband, Robert Apodaca, are listed on the California Secretary of State’s
website as receiving from the CLLF more than $43,000 in payments and
reimbursements.
The sinister nature of the mailer and the recorded phone call leave no doubt
that someone intended to damage the political viability of Paul Krekorian’s
candidacy and the credibility of the ANC and the Armenian American community. A
thorough investigation must be carried out to find out the identities of
those who conceived such a plot, paid for it and carried it out.
Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian told the Daily News (Los Angeles) that
he wanted the council to hold a hearing into the mailer and the phone
message. He was quoted as saying: “I feel that all Armenians were under attack when
that mailer was sent out.”
During a press conference organized by the ANC in Glendale a day after the
election, a broad cross section of the leaders of local Armenian American
organizations, including the Prelacy, Diocese, Armenian Evangelical Union, Armenian
Catholic Exarchate of North America, ARS, AGBU, Hamazkayin, Armenian Society
of Los Angeles, AYF, ANC, Homenetmen, Dr. Armine Hacopian, Vice President of
Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, Vahig Zadourian of Davidian and
Mariamian Educational Foundation, and Glendale City Councilmen Rafi Manoukian,
Bob Youssefian and Ara Najarian, denounced the anti-Armenian mailer.
“Unfortunately, during this campaign, ugly, anti-Armenian racist acts were
committed against Paul Krekorian, the ANC, and our community,” said Zanku
Armenian, Board Member of the ANC, Western Region. “Together, we are standing before
you today to say that this is unacceptable, we are outraged and we will hold
all those individuals, organizations and institutions involved in this
accountable.”
The Armenian community should consider filing a complaint with the California
Attorney General’s office as well as the State Fair Political Practices
Commission. If warranted a civil lawsuit should be filed against the CLLF and their
internal records subpoenaed in order to uncover who funded this hate mail.
Unless strict measures are taken to expose the culprits, those hiding behind
the CLLF could resort to such ugly tactics in subsequent local, state and
national elections intending to compromise the careers of Armenian American
candidates and harm the political credibility of the Armenian American community.
However, great care must be taken not to antagonize the entire Latino
community and Latino politicians who were just as incensed by this mailer. Los
Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti, Cong.
Adam Schiff and many other elected officials of all ethnic backgrounds
soundly condemned this attack on the Armenian community.
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2 – Orange County Armenian Professionals
Honor Mark Geragos at Spring Luncheon
COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Armenian Professional Society of Orange County held
it Spring Dinner event in April 2006, at the prestigious Center Club in Costa
Mesa.
Guest Speaker and honoree was high profile, criminal defense attorney Mark
Geragos.
Geragos provided insightful analysis of his recent successful lawsuit on
behalf of families of victims of the Genocide. He was joined in the action with
other law firms who filed claims in US Federal District Court against several
large European Insurance companies for payment of past due proceeds under
life insurance policies issued on behalf of victims of the Armenian Genocide.
This settlement was an important step in providing recognition for the genocide
committed by the Ottoman Turkish government and its criminal agents.
In relating on his work in this case, Geragos revealed his astonishment of
how the genocide was carried out in such a systematic manner with a map showing
entire villages and towns being decimated with little or no trace of
survivors. In his research in France he even came across family members (involved in
the candy business) who were also victims of the genocide as well as life
insurance policy holders, prompting him to add on a personal level “payment for
settlement and justice just went up significantly.”
For his important work on behalf of the Armenian-American community,
Vice-President and program organizer Serge Tomassian presented him with an award on
behalf of APS-OC.
Geragos’ speech was preceded by the invocation from Dr. Dick Kasper and the
pledge of allegiance led by board member Haig Tashjian, a World War 2 Air Force
veteran, who flew many missions over Europe and later volunteered to serve in
the Pacific War.
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3 – French President
Plans September
Visit to Armenia
YEREVAN – French President Jacques Chirac plans to visit Armenia, the French
Presidential Press Service told “Arminfo.”
According to the source, no official confirmation about the President’s visit
has been received so far, therefor the exact date and agenda are not known,
either.
Nevertheless, according to the same source, the French President’s visit to
Armenia is scheduled September 29th, which will overlap with the official
opening of the Year of France in Armenia. The President will be accompanied by
Charles Aznavour.
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4 – Chamlian School Science Fair Finalists
Visit Archbishop Prelate Mardirossian
LOS ANGELES – Five Science Fair finalists from Chamlian School visited
Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian on June 7, accompanied by representatives
of the school staff and parents.
The students, Talar Alexanian, Claire Arakelian, Shaunt Kouyoumdjian, Koko
Bornazyan, and Collette Hamamah, were joined by Assistant to the Principal Rita
Kaprielian, Science teacher Lida Kevorkian, parents Linda Alexanian, and Mr.
and Mrs. Vatche and Taline Kouyoumdjian.
Kevorkian spoke of the accomplishments of the five above-mentioned students,
as well as of students Garen Arabian, John Azizian, and Dveen Babaian. All
had in recent months participated in the Armenian Science Olympiad, the Los
Angeles County Fair, and the California State Science Fair, securing awards at all
three competitions. Kevorkian also gave details about each student’s field of
interest.
The students themselves also had an opportunity to convey further details to
the Prelate, who commended them for their achievements. The Prelate also
commended the school staff and parents for their support and involvement and
wished the students success as they continue to bring pride to their parents,
school, and community.
Prior to their departure, the Prelate presented the guests with mementos.
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5 – Cilician Catholicosate Donates $100,000
For Construction of Cathedral in Stepanakert
ANTELIAS (Noyan Tapan) – The Catholicosate of Cilician has donated $100,000
for the construction of a cathedral in Stepanakert, the capital of
Nagorno-Karabagh.
Construction works have already been started. The financial donation is “a
significant expression of entity and unity of the Armenian church as well as of
active participation in national work of building the Fatherland,” the
Cilician Catholicosate said in announcing the gift.
Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia wrote in his letter addressed
to Catholicos Karekin II and Nagorno Karabagh President Arkadi Ghukasian: “We
once again prove the initiative of the Great House of Cilicia Catholicosate
and personally our support to all works addressed to strengthening and progress
of Armenia and Karabagh.”
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6 – Garikian University
Scholarship Fund
Applications Available
ENCINO, Calif. – The Executive Board of the Garikian University Scholarship
Fund invite Armenian students at US universities to apply for the Garikian
Scholarship Fund.
Requirements for consideration are: All candidates should attend one of the
accredited Universities of the State of California; should have successfully
completed their first academic year at the university; should pursue their
higher education in one of the following four (4) majors or subjects specified by
the revised By-Laws of the Garikian Fund:Armenian Studies/Armenian Literature;
Political Science; Journalism; and Education-Teaching and Counseling
For applications from the Garikian University Scholarship Fund, send requests
C/O Western Prelacy, 5300 White Oak Avenue, Encino, CA 91316.
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7 – Vahan Chamlian Receives
2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
FRESNO – Vahan Chamlian, founder and chairman of the board of Chamlian
Enterprises Inc., of Fresno, has received the prestigious 2006 Ellis Island Medal
of Honor. The medal was bestowed upon 102 recipients at a ceremonial event and
gala dinner held on May 13 at the Great Hall on Ellis Island in New York.
Established in 1986, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay tribute to the
ancestry groups that comprise America’s unique cultural mosaic. Held each May on
Ellis Island, the celebratory event is full of pageantry, grandeur and
emotion. All branches of the United States Armed Forces traditionally participate in
this spectacular event. Dancers in their native costume add to the
international flavor of the celebration, and a gala dinner in the historic Great Hall
on Ellis Island follows the moving ceremony.
Founded 22 years ago, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, Inc. is
an umbrella for over 250 ethnic and heritage organizations in the United
States. Its mission is to celebrate ethnic diversity and to foster tolerance,
respect and understanding among all ethnic and religious groups.
Six Presidents of the United States have received the award, as well as many
Senators and Members of Congress, Nobel Prize winners, and military heroes
including, General Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell, as well as leaders from
both the public and private sectors. Only living citizens of the United States
are considered for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Chamlian immigrated to the United States in 1959 from Beirut, Lebanon with
his wife and daughter determined to build a better life in the golden land of
opportunity. Always forward-thinking, Chamlian established Chamlian Enterprises
in 1963, a rag recycling company in Fresno, California, which eventually grew
into a multi-million dollar business.
While Chamlian is a true American success story, he has always stayed true to
his Armenian roots, as evidenced by his establishment of the Vahan and Anoush
Chamlian Armenian School in Glendale, Calif., and being one of the
benefactors of the Armenian Community School of Fresno, accomplishments which he
considers to be among the most important throughout his adult life. Additionally,
among many other awards, Chamlian is the recipient of the “OTHER” Medal of
Honor, the highest level of achievement given by the Salvation Army.
Chamlian currently resides in Fresno with his wife Anoush, his two daughters
and their families; Ketty Chamlian-Massengale, her husband Mannie and son
Nino; and Monique Chamlian-Bouskos, her husband Michael and two sons Alexander and
Andrew.
When asked how he felt about receiving this award, Chamlian said, “I am proud
and humbled to be among such an illustrious group of former and current Ellis
Island Medal of Honor recipients. As immigrants we understand what a
wonderful country we live in, as it truly is a land of immeasurable opportunity. My
life in this country has been fulfilling both personally and professionally,
and I am grateful to the United States of America for the opportunity to
fulfill the American Dream through hard work and perseverance.”
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress