LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee-Political Action Committee has endorsed Jackie Speier in her campaign to serve as the next U.S. Representative for California’s 12th Congressional District. Speier, who is of Armenian descent, has served as a County Supervisor, State Assemblymember and State Senator in a distinguished career that has spanned over three decades. Since 1980, California’s 12th Congressional District has been represented by Tom Lantos (D-CA), who recently announced that he would not seek reelection in 2008 due to a diagnosis of cancer.
"We know that Jackie will be an effective fighter in Congress for her constituents," said ANC-PAC supporter Roxanne Makasdjian. "She’s dedicated to human rights and democracy, and she knows the challenges that Armenian Americans face in addressing U.S. policy in the Caucasus and genocide denial on Capitol Hill."
"The Armenian National Committee of America has made phenomenal strides in educating Congress on the importance of recognizing the Armenian Genocide," said Speier. "I value my longstanding friendship with the ANC, and look forward to promoting in Congress all the successful measures I have pursued on behalf of Armenian Americans in the CA State Legislature," she added.
Jackie Speier’s career as a public servant began in the 1980s when she won a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. After serving for six years as a San Mateo County Supervisor, she made a successful bid for the State Assembly and in 1998 was elected to the State Senate. In 2006 she attempted to gain the California Democratic Party’s nomination for Lieutenant Governor, but was narrowly defeated by John Garamendi.
The San Jose Mercury News has previously reported, "no one comes close to Speier’s remarkable record of getting substantive legislation signed into law." In fact, her legislative success over the years was once rated "Ruthian" by the Los Angeles Times, a reference to baseball’s prolific homerun king Babe Ruth. According to state legislative records, as a member of the California State Assembly and later State Senate, Speier authored over 300 bills that have been signed into law by Democratic and Republican Governors.
The 12th Congressional District, which is home to an active Armenian American community, encompasses San Mateo County and a portion of San Francisco. The district is located just to the south of California’s 8th Congressional District, which is represented by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House.
Speier has been a longtime friend to many Armenian American activists in the San Francisco-Bay Area. She will be honored by the San Francisco-Bay Area Armenian National Committee chapter on March 8th at their annual banquet. In 2005, Speier was honored in Los Angeles by the Armenian National Committee-Western Region as the organization’s Woman of the Year.
Among her legislative achievemen’s on Armenian issues, Speier co-authored a bill, that was later signed into law, allowing California families of victims of the Armenian Genocide to bring claims arising out of the failure of banks to pay or turn over their deposited or looted assets.
Individuals interested in learning more about Jackie Speier’s congressional campaign are encouraged to visit www.jackieforcongress.com.
The ANC-PAC is a non-partisan federally registered political action committee established to support campaign committees for Members of Congress who share the values of the Armenian American community. The ANC-PAC is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the voice of the Armenian American community is clearly heard in our nation’s capital. The ANC-PAC continues a century old tradition of Armenian Americans engagement on the public policy issues facing national political leaders, both in the U.S. Congress and the White House. For more information, please visit www.ancpac.org.
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