The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, and San Fernando Valley – East local chapters have endorsed Elen Asatryan for California’s 44th State Assembly District.
“My Armenian heritage and immigrant experience is at the core of my identity. I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the ANCA and its local chapters – an organization that is near and dear to my heart,” stated Asatryan. “The million Armenians who call California home currently have zero representation in the California Legislature. This is one of the main driving forces behind my decision to run for AD 44. As my people face yet another brutal genocide by the dictatorial regimes of Turkey and Azerbaijan, ensuring that my community has access to essential services, securing equitable funding for our institutions, justly representing our community, and forging stronger bonds between California, Armenia, and Artsakh are among my foremost priorities.”
Elen Asatryan is the first Armenian-American woman to serve on Glendale City Council, the most densely Armenian-populated municipality in the country. During her tenure on council, Asatryan has led efforts to establish sister-city ties between Glendale and Martuni in Artsakh – and during Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, spearheaded efforts to allocate city resources to assist those in need. Asatryan also led initiatives at the local level to condemn Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh, and pressure the Biden Administration to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its genocidal conduct. Prior to serving on Glendale City Council, Asatryan served on the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee representing the 43rd State Assembly district, where she worked to ensure the Armenian-American community’s voice was represented in the Democratic Party’s decision-making structures.
Asatryan also served as Executive Director of the ANCA’s Western Region office for several years where she oversaw state-level recognition of the Armenian Genocide across 19 states, and the incorporation of Armenian Genocide education in California’s statewide high school curriculum. In addition to her work championing recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Asatryan’s commitment to defending the right to self-determination for the Armenians of Artsakh earned her Artsakh’s “Gratitude” Award, issued by the President of the Republic of Artsakh.
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“As a long-time ANCA activist and Armenian community leader, we are proud to endorse Elen Asatryan in her campaign for California’s 44th Assembly District,” remarked Lucy Petrosian, chair of the ANCA Glendale chapter.
“Elen has devoted her career in public service to empowering the Armenian-American community, and has represented our community with distinction – we look forward to continuing to work with her in California’s State Assembly, where she would be the only Armenian-American voice, and first Armenian-American woman to serve in the legislature.”
California’s 44th Assembly District has the largest Armenian-American population of any legislative district in the country and includes portions of Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, Sunland-Tujunga, North Hollywood, Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks, and Universal City.
“Ensuring the Armenian-American community’s voice is represented in electoral politics has long been a priority of the ANCA,” remarked ANCA San Fernando Valley – East co-chair Dr. Avo Babian. “California’s 44th Assembly District is home to one of the largest and fastest growing Armenian American communities anywhere in the world – and there is no one more qualified than Elen Asatryan to represent our community’s voice in the State Legislature and ensure the needs of Armenian-Americans living in the district are served.”