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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: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 27, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Hosts TOWN HALL MEETING WITH Washington Political Correspondent
Charles Mahtesian
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America - Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed Charles Mahtesian, Editor of the Almanac of
American Politics, at an ANCA Town Hall meeting this past Saturday at
the historic Tom Bradley room atop Los Angeles City Hall. In attendance
were a broad cross section of ANCA supporters and activists from across
southern California, including many young professionals interested in
learning more about the public policy environment in Washington, DC.
"Educating Armenian Americans on public policy issues is a vital
component of the ANCA's core mission to empower the community," remarked
ANCA-WR Board member Zanku Armenian. "Our event today with Charles
Mahtesian provided a genuine political education for those present. Few
people in America understand the politics of Congress better than
Charles Mahtesian, and we were fortunate to have him share his insight
with us," Armenian added.
At the ANCA Town Hall meeting Mahtesian spoke to his audience about a
number of political issues ranging from the Democratic majority in both
the House of Representatives and Senate to an analysis of the various
candidates jockeying for power in the 2008 Presidential Election. With
the election of fifty-five new members to the House of Representatives,
forty-two of which are Democrats, Mahtesian noted that there has been a
decisive reversal of the "Republican Revolution" that began in 1994.
With the new Democratic majority in Congress and San Francisco Bay area
representative Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, Mahtesian observed that
this shift in power will result in a louder voice for the
Armenian-American community. He observed that the shift in power in
Congress, from Texas-based politicians to those hailing from California,
may play a significant role in the fate of the Armenian Genocide
resolution pending before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mahtesian speculated that the Republican minority may find it difficult
to regain a majority in Congress in the near future, thereby allowing
Democrats to further strengthen and solidify their political gains. He
also noted that the Democrat's strength in Congress could be further
bolstered by the fact a good number of Republican House members and
Senators are older and may opt for early retirement rather than face the
frustration they will experience as members of the minority party. In
addition to this frustration, Mahtesian pointed out that 21 Republican
Senators will be up for reelection in 2008, as opposed to only 12
Democratic Senators, making the open seats more available to Democrats.
Even with these built-in advantages for Democrats in Congress, Mahtesian
assured attendees at the ANCA Town Hall meeting that Republicans were
capable of bouncing back to power.
The final issue that Mahtesian addressed was the possibility of moving
up the schedule of the Presidential Primary in the State of California.
Moving the California Presidential Primary from June to February, as
Governor Schwarzenegger would like to do, would dramatically increase
the importance of the state in selecting the presidential nominees from
both parties. This new date would also mean that candidates will become
more sensitive to Armenian issues because California is home to an
enormous number of Armenian American voters.
During the question-answer period after his presentation, audience
members were given the opportunity to ask Mahtesian about the issues he
addressed as well as the current status of the Genocide resolution
(H.RES.106). Mahtesian greatly enjoyed his visit to Los Angeles, and
looks forward to visiting the region again in the near future. "I find
the dynamism and energy of the ANCA-WR to be really remarkable,"
commented Mahtesian following the event. "It's that kind of passion and
energy that gets things accomplished in American politics."
In addition to his position as editor of the Almanac of American
Politics which is commonly referred to as "the bible of American
politics," Charles Mahtesian currently writes a monthly column on
politics for Government Executive magazine and is a contributing writer
and editor at National Journal magazine. Mahtesian has written for a
variety of newspapers, journals and magazines including The Weekly
Standard and Congress Daily, served as an election night analyst for
National Public Radio and appeared on numerous radio and television
programs including NPR's All Things Considered, C-Span's Washington
Journal, and on CNN and the BBC.
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: Charlie Mahtesian joins members of the ANCA-WR Board and
Staff after his lecture at Saturday's Town Hall Meeting.
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
February 27, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Hosts TOWN HALL MEETING WITH Washington Political Correspondent
Charles Mahtesian
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Armenian National Committee of America - Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed Charles Mahtesian, Editor of the Almanac of
American Politics, at an ANCA Town Hall meeting this past Saturday at
the historic Tom Bradley room atop Los Angeles City Hall. In attendance
were a broad cross section of ANCA supporters and activists from across
southern California, including many young professionals interested in
learning more about the public policy environment in Washington, DC.
"Educating Armenian Americans on public policy issues is a vital
component of the ANCA's core mission to empower the community," remarked
ANCA-WR Board member Zanku Armenian. "Our event today with Charles
Mahtesian provided a genuine political education for those present. Few
people in America understand the politics of Congress better than
Charles Mahtesian, and we were fortunate to have him share his insight
with us," Armenian added.
At the ANCA Town Hall meeting Mahtesian spoke to his audience about a
number of political issues ranging from the Democratic majority in both
the House of Representatives and Senate to an analysis of the various
candidates jockeying for power in the 2008 Presidential Election. With
the election of fifty-five new members to the House of Representatives,
forty-two of which are Democrats, Mahtesian noted that there has been a
decisive reversal of the "Republican Revolution" that began in 1994.
With the new Democratic majority in Congress and San Francisco Bay area
representative Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, Mahtesian observed that
this shift in power will result in a louder voice for the
Armenian-American community. He observed that the shift in power in
Congress, from Texas-based politicians to those hailing from California,
may play a significant role in the fate of the Armenian Genocide
resolution pending before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mahtesian speculated that the Republican minority may find it difficult
to regain a majority in Congress in the near future, thereby allowing
Democrats to further strengthen and solidify their political gains. He
also noted that the Democrat's strength in Congress could be further
bolstered by the fact a good number of Republican House members and
Senators are older and may opt for early retirement rather than face the
frustration they will experience as members of the minority party. In
addition to this frustration, Mahtesian pointed out that 21 Republican
Senators will be up for reelection in 2008, as opposed to only 12
Democratic Senators, making the open seats more available to Democrats.
Even with these built-in advantages for Democrats in Congress, Mahtesian
assured attendees at the ANCA Town Hall meeting that Republicans were
capable of bouncing back to power.
The final issue that Mahtesian addressed was the possibility of moving
up the schedule of the Presidential Primary in the State of California.
Moving the California Presidential Primary from June to February, as
Governor Schwarzenegger would like to do, would dramatically increase
the importance of the state in selecting the presidential nominees from
both parties. This new date would also mean that candidates will become
more sensitive to Armenian issues because California is home to an
enormous number of Armenian American voters.
During the question-answer period after his presentation, audience
members were given the opportunity to ask Mahtesian about the issues he
addressed as well as the current status of the Genocide resolution
(H.RES.106). Mahtesian greatly enjoyed his visit to Los Angeles, and
looks forward to visiting the region again in the near future. "I find
the dynamism and energy of the ANCA-WR to be really remarkable,"
commented Mahtesian following the event. "It's that kind of passion and
energy that gets things accomplished in American politics."
In addition to his position as editor of the Almanac of American
Politics which is commonly referred to as "the bible of American
politics," Charles Mahtesian currently writes a monthly column on
politics for Government Executive magazine and is a contributing writer
and editor at National Journal magazine. Mahtesian has written for a
variety of newspapers, journals and magazines including The Weekly
Standard and Congress Daily, served as an election night analyst for
National Public Radio and appeared on numerous radio and television
programs including NPR's All Things Considered, C-Span's Washington
Journal, and on CNN and the BBC.
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: Charlie Mahtesian joins members of the ANCA-WR Board and
Staff after his lecture at Saturday's Town Hall Meeting.