LOS ANGELES, CA – Early this morning, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) along with its local chapters in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Crescenta Valley, Hollywood, San Gabriel Valley, and Sunland-Tujunga announced its endorsement Anthony Portantino for California’s 25th State Senate District.

“The ANCA WR is proud to lend its full and complete support behind Anthony Portantino’s campaign for the CA State Senate as he’s been a staunch advocate of our Cause and a true friend of our community since his early days on the La Canada Flintridge City Council,”  stated ANCA WR Chair Nora Hovsepian.  “Our decision was based on Anthony’s strong track record of serving the needs of our communities and productively working with the ANCA regional and local chapters for nearly 2 decades.  We are confident that he will continue to build on this strong foundation when elected to the State Senate,” added Hovsepian.

“I am humbled by the faith and trust of the ANCA WR for supporting our campaign for the State Senate.  No one can win an election alone and it takes a strong network of support across a district to succeed.  The ANCA-WR has an amazing network of grassroots activists and receiving their support, today continues our early positive momentum more than I could have imagined when this journey began,” concluded Portantino.

Portantino served in the California State Assembly from December, 2006 to December 2012 where he established himself as a passionate supporter of issues important to the Armenian-American community including education and being an independent leader who endeavored to put policy ahead of politics.  He has been an outspoken champion for government reform, accountability and transparency.  In his freshman Assembly year, Portantino was appointed to Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education. In addition, Portantino Chaired the Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Select Committee on the Preservation of the Entertainment Industry.

During his years in the State Assembly, Portantino was honored by the ANCA WR as Legislator of the Year for being a true advocate of the Armenian Cause.  As Assemblymember, Portantino among many other accomplishments, co-authored the state resolutions recognizing and commemorating the Armenian Genocide in Sacramento every year he was in office, served as a model for inclusive representation, including full-time Armenian American District and Political staff, and spearheaded college outreach programs directly targeted to and for the benefit of Armenian American high school families.

Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, Anthony served nearly eight years on the La Cañada Flintridge City Council including two years as Mayor.

Currently, Anthony is a Board Member of the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce and the Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, which spearheaded the construction of an important and poignant memorial commemorating the Armenian Genocide, member of the Board of Directors for the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, a member of the California Film Commission, the Chair of the Pasadena City College Bond Oversight Committee and a member of the California Armenian American Democrats, Southern California Armenian Democrats, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee.

In addition, Anthony is beginning his third year a Visiting Fellow at the USC Unruh Institute of Politics and he is hosting a monthly public policy talk show called The Question is with Anthony Portantino on Charter Cable.

Anthony was born in Long Branch, New Jersey where he attended public schools and graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania.  At Albright, he met his future wife, Ellen, a business executive for Warner Brothers.  Anthony and Ellen have two daughters, Sofia, a recent graduate of UCSB, and Bella Rose, who attends a public middle school.  Prior to his election to the Assembly, Portantino spent many years working in film and television production.  Anthony is a PTA member, Girl Scout volunteer, usher at St. Bed RC Church and an AYSO soccer referee.

California’s 25th State Senate District, currently represented by retiring Democrat Carol Liu, includes AD 41 and AD 43 and connects the Los Angeles County foothills from Sunland-Tujunga in the City of Los Angeles on the west to the City of Upland in San Bernardino County on the east.   It includes the whole cities and communities of Sunland-Tujunga, Glendale, Pasadena, Altadena, Atwater Village, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, South Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Claremont, San Antonio Heights, and Upland in addition to most of Burbank.

Community members interested in getting involved or learning more about the campaign may do so by contacting Potantino’s campaign office at team@anthonyportantino.com and 626.478.3465 .  In order to vote in the 2016 Primary and General Elections, you must be registered. To register to vote online visit www.hyevotes.org or call 818.806.8683.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.