Armenian National Committee of Arizona
c/o Mr. Yervant Baltajian, Chair
16456 North 32nd Street, Suite 4
E-mail: ybaltajian@yahoo.com
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Contact: Yervant Baltajian
E-mail: ybaltajian@yahoo.com
Arizona ANC Praises Congressman Mitchell
Scottsdale, AZ – Armenian Americans from the Grand Canyon State welcomed
this week Congressman Harry Mitchell’s cosponsorship of human rights
legislation concerning the Armenian Genocide (H.Res.106). Congressman
Mitchell, who represents Arizona’s fifth Congressional District, has
previously served as the Mayor of Tempe, as Chairman of the Arizona
Democratic Party and had a distinguished tenure in the State Senate.
"Our community here in Arizona appreciates Congressman Mitchell’s
cosponsorship of the Armenian Genocide resolution," commented Arizona ANC
Chairman Yervant Baltajian. "We thank Congressman Mitchell for his
principled leadership on this issue which is important to our rapidly
growing community in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District," Baltajian added.
Baltajian and ANC activists working with the ANCA-WR and national ANCA
offices contacted Congressman Mitchell’s local and Washington, D.C. staff
regarding the resolution back in March of this year. This past May,
Baltajian and Arizona ANC activist Salpi Demirjian met with Congressman
Mitchell’s aides in his Scottsdale office to discuss the resolution and the
Armenian Genocide.
Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which covers Scottsdale, Tempe, and
portions of Phoenix’s northwestern suburbs such as Fountain Hills, Camp
Creek, and Sunflower, is home to a large and growing Armenian American
community. The community is composed of many legal, medical and business
professionals, along with a large number of entrepreneurs who own their own
businesses.
Prior to being elected to Congress, Mitchell served in a variety of
political offices in addition to his work as a teacher. After serving on
the Tempe City Council from 1970 to 1980, Mitchell served as Mayor of Tempe
from 1980 to 1994, winning most mayoral races with large majorities. A
statue of Mitchell is erected near Tempe’s City Hall and the city’s Harry E.
Mitchell Municipal Complex. Mitchell is credited with revitalizing downtown
Tempe and building partnerships between small businesses, communities,
corporations, investors and Arizona State University to manage sustainable
economic development and urban growth. Mitchell then served in the Arizona
State Senate, followed by his chairmanship of the Arizona Democratic Party.
Mitchell was born in Tempe, Arizona on July 18, 1940 and earned both his
bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public
administration from Arizona State University. Congresswoman Mitchell is
married to his wife of 40 years, Marianne. Their son Mark Mitchell
currently serves as Vice Mayor of Tempe.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) 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.