ANC-PAC ENDORSES ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES
armradio.am
28.02.2009 15:02
The Armenian National Committee – Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC)
announced this week its endorsement of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa for the upcoming March 3rd LA city elections.
"The ANC-PAC is pleased to endorse Mayor Villaraigosa who has been
a steadfast and vocal supporter of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community," said ANC-PAC chairperson, Armen Martin.
In 2007, at the urging and support of Mayor Villaraigosa, the
Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution urging the House of
Representatives to pass H. Res. 106. His support of the resolution made
him a target of the Turkish Consul General of Los Angeles who sent
the mayor a letter and provided Turkish government pseudo-academic
propaganda in order to pressure him into changing his stance. In
response, Mayor Villaraigosa donated the books to the community for
educational purposes along with a letter to the Turkish Consul General
reiterating his support for Armenian Genocide recognition.
In 1994, Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly;
four years later, his colleagues elected him the first Assembly
Speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years.
During his tenure in the State Assembly, Villaraigosa was a consistent
supporter of Armenian Genocide recognition resolutions and other
bills of importance to the Armenian community. After serving as
Speaker, Villaraigosa served as a member of the Los Angeles City
Council where championed official where he continued his Armenian
Genocide affirmation and supported community efforts to create a Los
Angeles-Yerevan Sister City relationship.
During the 2004 Presidential election season, Villaraigosa was selected
by then Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator John Kerry to chair
the Democratic Party Platform Committee. As Chair of the Platform
Committee, Villaraigosa led the effort to include Armenian Genocide
affirmation and Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination language as part
of the Platform.