San Diego, CA – A diverse and enthusiastic group of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) supporters gathered at the home of longtime community benefactors John and Cynthia Andonian on March 19, 2016 in Rancho Santa Fe, California to support the congressional campaign of California State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian. Katcho is currently the frontrunner in the race to represent the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo area in the U.S. House of Representatives. Leaders of the National Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) were also on hand at the Andonian residence to express their strong and consistent support for Katcho Achadjian.

“My wife Cynthia and I were honored to host an event at our home for Republican congressional candidate Katcho Achadjian,” shared longtime ANCA supporter John Andonian. “Katcho is a remarkable individual.  His values, his intellect and his honesty are needed, now more than ever, in the U.S. Congress,” Andonian added.

The event at the Andonian residence in support of Katcho Achadjian is one of many events his friends and supporters are holding in his State Assembly District and across the State of California to back his congressional aspirations.

California State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian is respected by his legislative colleagues in Sacramento – both Democrats and Republicans – as a thoughtful consensus builder and a highly effective legislator. He is admired – throughout California and across America – as a powerful advocate for the views and values of Americans of Armenian heritage.  If elected, he will represent California’s 24th Congressional District, joining two other federal legislators from the Golden State of Armenian background – Anna Eshoo (18th Congressional District) and Jackie Kanchelian Speier (14th Congressional District).

California’s 24th Congressional District, currently represented by retiring Democrat Lois Capps, stretches across Santa Barbara County and San LuisObispo County, as well the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County. Congresswoman Capps narrowly won her last two races, most recently defeating Republican Christopher Mitchum by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1% in November of 2014.

Since joining the California State Assembly, Achadjian has been a pro-active leader on each and every pro-Armenian state-level initiative. He helped lead the historic California State Legislative Delegation visit in 2013 to both the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and served as host for the Nagorno Karabagh Parliamentary Speaker’s visit to the State Capitol.  He played a vital role in Calfornia’s recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and was the lead sponsor, in 2012, of Assembly Joint Resolution 34 (AJR 34), which called on the Republic of Turkey to respect religious freedom by returning stolen Armenian Churches and other church properties.

Katcho Achadjian holds degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Prior to holding office, Katcho founded a successful local business, where he gained a strong appreciation for the need to streamline government regulations. Prior to joining the State Legislature, he served three terms as an elected member of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Notably, Katcho was also appointed by the Governor of the State of California in 2006 to the powerful California Coastal Commission before joining the State Assembly.

Katcho has been married to his wife Araxie since 1984 and they have a son, Hratch, and daughter, Nyri.