Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: ancawr@anca.org
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
March 13, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR ATTENDS RECEPTION HOSTING GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS

LOS ANGELES, CA – Members of the Armenian National Committee of
America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) board were joined by local ANC leaders
at an evening reception on March 7, 2007 featuring former Governor and
Presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis. The event was hosted by
long-time ANC supporter and former Clinton Administration official,
Michael Mahdesian and his father, ANC activist Richard Mahdesian. The
ANCA-WR joined other Los Angeles-area elected officials, staffers and
community activists to listen to Dukakis’ perspective on the 2008
General Elections.

In his remarks, Dukakis emphasized the importance of grassroots
mobilization and the role it would play in the 2008 elections. He noted
that recent successes by the Democratic Party could, in part, be
attributed to the amount of effort spent reaching out to voters at a
personal and local level. He argued that this approach has the
potential to be even more effective in California and very important
given the nearly finalized decision to hold California’s Presidential
Primary elections early in the election season.

Glendale City Clerk, Ardashes Kassakhian opened the evening’s event. In
introducing Dukakis, Kassakhian recalled how as a student the former
Governor and part-time UCLA lecturer helped motivate his interest and
strengthen his commitment to public service. ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi
Hamparian was joined by fellow board members, Zanku Armenian and Avo
Ovayan as well as staff and interns from the Western Region office.
Several local ANC chairs and staff also attended the event.

"Being a grassroots organization, the Armenian National Committee can
appreciate the importance of the community outreach described by
Governor Dukakis," remarked Armenian. "Time and again, we see our hard
work at the local level result in a positive contribution to our
community’s well-being and ensure that its issues are appropriately
addressed."

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.

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PHOTO CAPTION: (from left to right) Ovayan, Hamparian, Armenian, and
ANCA-WR Executive Director, Antranig Kzirian join Dukakis (center) at
the Wednesday evening reception. (Photo by Jacob Margolis)