Armenian National Committee – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
PRES S RELEASE
: August 21, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
California State Controller John Chiang
Praises ANC-WR Grassroots Efforts
Los Angeles, CA – Members of the Armenian National Committee – Western
Region (ANC-WR) met with California State Controller John Chiang on Tuesday,
August 7, 2007. Those in attendance included State Controller John Chiang,
ANC-WR Board Members Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Aida Dimejian, Leonard
Manoukian and Raffi Hamparian and ANC-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian.
The meeting was held to discuss state-wide community issues relations with
the State Controller’s office.
"The Armenian National Committee has been on the forefront of positive
changes for Armenian Americans and their communities," Controller Chiang
said. "I look forward to continuing to work with the ANC-WR on many
important issues."
During the meeting with ANC-WR officials, State Controller Chiang provided
an update on state-wide activities related to fiscal policy and legislation.
ANC-WR Board Members then provided Chiang with an review on recent
developments in the Armenian American community regarding the withdrawal of
Richard Hoagland as Ambassador-Designate to Armenia and the current status
of the Armenian Genocide Resolutions in Congress.
"The ANC-WR always welcomes the opportunity to meet with our state’s elected
officials like State Controller John Chiang," commented ANC-WR Board Member
Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian. "Controller Chiang is committed to working with
the local community and the ANC-WR greatly looks forward to working with his
office well into the future," she added.
The ANC-WR joined dozens of elected officials and Californians in
congratulating Controller Chiang at his inauguration on January 8, 2007.
Over 1,000 people attended the festivities to usher in Chiang’s term as
State Controller.
Controller John Chiang was elected in November 2006 to serve as California’s
Chief Financial Officer. As State Controller, Chiang presides over the
Franchise Tax Board and is a member of the California Public Employees’
Retirement System (CalPERS) Board and the California State Teachers’
Retirement System (CalSTRS) Board. These two funds have a combined portfolio
of $300 billion.
John brings extensive experience and fiscal leadership to the Office of the
State Controller. He was first elected to the Board of Equalization in 1998.
Since then, he has led with innovative and groundbreaking taxpayer-friendly
services like the State’s free income tax return preparation service,
ReadyReturn. As a member of the Board of Equalization, John represented 73
cities in Los Angeles County, including the City of Los Angeles. He was
elected to his second four-year term in 2002. He has represented the Board
of Equalization on the Franchise Tax Board and served as the chair of the
Streamlined Sales Tax Project’s Board of Governors.
He has also boosted small businesses by sponsoring events featuring experts
from various government agencies to explain in clear and concise language
compliance issues, the latest tax laws, policies, rules, and regulations.
These seminars provide entrepreneurs with the tools to grow their businesses
and prosper.
John has compiled an extraordinary record of public service going back
decades consisting of numerous awards recognizing his contributions to the
community. John graduated with honors from the University of South Florida
with a degree in Finance, and received his law degree from the Georgetown
University Law Center. He began his career as a Tax Law Specialist with the
Internal Revenue Service and served as an attorney with the Office of the
State Controller.
The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the
Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated
organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.