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: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 17, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Congratulates Felipe Fuentes on Joining California State Assembly
Los Angeles, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) and its local chapters have congratulated Felipe Fuentes on
becoming the newest member of the California State Assembly. Fuentes was
elected to represent the 39th State Assembly District in a Special Election
which took place on May 15, 2007.
Fuentes had spent more than a decade as a Deputy Mayor in the Hahn
administration and had served as Chief of Staff to former city council
president and now State Senator Alex Padilla.
The Special Election was held on May 15, 2007 to fill the vacant seat left
by former Assemblymember Richard Alarcón, who is now a member of the Los
Angeles City Council.
"The ANCA-WR congratulates Assemblymember Fuentes and looks forward to
working with him on issues of concern to our community," commented Andrew
Kzirian, Executive Director of the ANCA-WR.
The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Fuentes grew up in the Northeast San
Fernando Valley attending local public schools before going on to the
University of California at Los Angeles, where he earned his B.A, and
Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University, where he earned an
MBA. Soon after graduating Fuentes began his career promoting immigrant and
children’s rights through the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional
Law. In 1999, Fuentes began serving the 7th council district as a field
deputy, working with the grassroots leadership of the district. In 2001,
Fuentes was appointed Deputy Mayor of the San Fernando Valley. Fuentes then
went on to serve the 7th council district as Council President Padilla’s
Chief of Staff. In that post, Fuentes has been an integral part of the
construction and revitalization of the Northeast Valley’s police and fire
stations, libraries, and infrastructure improvements.
Fuentes enjoyed the support and backing of many prominent politicians
including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman
Brad Sherman, Senator Alex Padilla, Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, and
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.
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.