Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
Armenian Americans in Chico Meet with Republican Congressman Wally Herger
Chico, CA – Members of the local Armenian American community met with
Congressman Wally Herger from California’s 2nd Congressional District on
July 6, 2007. The meeting, held in Chico, California, [ninety miles north
of Sacramento] included a discussion of a range of topics important to the
Congressman’s Armenian American constituents.
"I was pleased with our meeting with Congressman Herger," explained ANCA-WR
Board Member John Boghossian after conferring with the Congressman. "He is
a straight shooter and so he understands what Armenian Christians endured
during the Armenian Genocide – I am hopeful that he will join over 218 of
his colleagues in cosponsoring H. Res. 106," Boghossian added.
The meeting with Congressman Wally Herger included the participation of his
district director Fran Peace, ANCA-WR Board Member John Boghossian, ANCA-WR
Executive Director Andrew Kzirian, Mrs. Silva Boghossian, and local Chico
resident Lori Adrian. Boghossian and Kzirian provided the Congressman with
a background of the Armenian American community in his District. The
delegation also shared with Congressman Herger the long history of Armenian
American political participation in the State of California.
Congressman Herger heard from his constituent Lori Adrian about the
importance of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution. Adrian and the
group shared with the Congressman why it is vital to acknowledge the
unprecedented humanitarian relief effort that America launched for the
victims of the Armenian Genocide. Boghossian and Kzirian noted the strong
support of Republican Congressmen Duncan Hunter, Dave Reichert, Mark Kirk,
Ed Royce and others who have cosponsored the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
The group also discussed the anti-free speech environment in Turkey that led
to the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink. Finally, Kzirian provided
the Congressman with an overview of various documents, ranging from
gubernatorial proclamations on the Armenian Genocide to trade charts
demonstrating vast increases in trade volume between Turkey and countries
that have officially recognized the genocide.
Congressman Herger was born in Sutter County in 1945. He was raised on a
cattle ranch in a small community called Rio Oso, located south of Yuba
City/Marysville. Growing up, he worked on his family’s ranch, and was also
involved in the family’s small business. He got his start in elected office
as a member of the East Nicolaus School Board. He was elected to the
California State Assembly in 1980, serving there until his election to the
United States House of Representatives by the people of California’s Second
Congressional District. In 2006, Herger was elected to his 11th term in
Congress. He is married to Pamela, and they currently reside in Chico. They
are the parents of nine children, and have five grandchildren.
The Second District of California represented by Congressman Herger is
located in rural Northern California and stretches over 250 miles from north
to south. The district is composed of all or parts of ten
counties–Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba,
Sutter, and Yolo. Nearly encompassing 22,000 square miles, the district is
larger than nine states.
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.
###
Photo caption: Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA-02) is joined by Boghossian,
Kzirian, Silva Boghossian and Lori Adrian.