Tweet
TEMPLETON HIGH SCHOOL REPORTER TALKS TO KATCHO
Atascadero News
http://www.atascaderonews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=77&story_id=47 24
Feb 3 2012
CA
BY: Benton Lowerison, The Aerie
Many constituents can identify our state assemblyman, Katcho Acahdjian,
but few know his story. Over an hour-long lunch, I got an insider's
take on the politician's life.
Born in Lebanon to Armenian parents, Katcho grew up speaking both
Turkish and Armenian.
"Lebanon was very pro-American where I grew up," he said. "If you
drove an American car, you had it made. If there was an American
movie in the theatres, everybody went."
In 1971, Katcho decided to pursue the American dream by moving to
California. He worked at a Shell gas station in Arroyo Grande to pay
for his college education, graduating from Cuesta in 1973 and from
Cal Poly in 1976 with a degree in international business.
Initially, he hoped to pursue a career that would utilize his fluency
in three languages. After his former employer offered to sell him
the Shell station he had worked at for so long, though, he decided
to stay local.
Before self-service at Shell, Katcho would wash customers' windows
for them.
"I would always get the sides and the mirrors, and they [the customers]
would always come back," he said.
As his business enterprises grew, he became more and more involved,
finding ways to serve the community that had helped him make his way.
He served as a volunteer on the French Hospital and Arroyo Grande
Community Hospital boards and has been an active member of the Arroyo
Grande Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years.
His extensive involvement in Arroyo Grande and the surrounding area
led many to support his bid for County Board of Supervisors in 1998.
After serving three terms, he ran for the state assembly and won.
"I came from a place where you couldn't even pronounce the [American]
cities and now I get to make decisions in the capitol," he said,
looking off into the distance before adding, "two oceans away."
With the state assembly in recess, Katcho has been enjoying another
aspect of his job: visiting constituents to hear their take on assembly
bills and local issues.
"If you get beyond the politics of politicking, you can help people
out," he said.
Atascadero News
http://www.atascaderonews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=77&story_id=47 24
Feb 3 2012
CA
BY: Benton Lowerison, The Aerie
Many constituents can identify our state assemblyman, Katcho Acahdjian,
but few know his story. Over an hour-long lunch, I got an insider's
take on the politician's life.
Born in Lebanon to Armenian parents, Katcho grew up speaking both
Turkish and Armenian.
"Lebanon was very pro-American where I grew up," he said. "If you
drove an American car, you had it made. If there was an American
movie in the theatres, everybody went."
In 1971, Katcho decided to pursue the American dream by moving to
California. He worked at a Shell gas station in Arroyo Grande to pay
for his college education, graduating from Cuesta in 1973 and from
Cal Poly in 1976 with a degree in international business.
Initially, he hoped to pursue a career that would utilize his fluency
in three languages. After his former employer offered to sell him
the Shell station he had worked at for so long, though, he decided
to stay local.
Before self-service at Shell, Katcho would wash customers' windows
for them.
"I would always get the sides and the mirrors, and they [the customers]
would always come back," he said.
As his business enterprises grew, he became more and more involved,
finding ways to serve the community that had helped him make his way.
He served as a volunteer on the French Hospital and Arroyo Grande
Community Hospital boards and has been an active member of the Arroyo
Grande Chamber of Commerce for more than 30 years.
His extensive involvement in Arroyo Grande and the surrounding area
led many to support his bid for County Board of Supervisors in 1998.
After serving three terms, he ran for the state assembly and won.
"I came from a place where you couldn't even pronounce the [American]
cities and now I get to make decisions in the capitol," he said,
looking off into the distance before adding, "two oceans away."
With the state assembly in recess, Katcho has been enjoying another
aspect of his job: visiting constituents to hear their take on assembly
bills and local issues.
"If you get beyond the politics of politicking, you can help people
out," he said.