Members of the Armenian National Committee Orange County met with County of
Orange Supervisor Chris Norby to discuss issues of importance to the members of
the Orange County Armenian Community. The meeting was facilitated by Brea
City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Brea, Marty Simonoff.
Marty Simonoff is of Armenian descent and is currently running for the State
Assembly seat being vacated by long time Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher after
serving three successful terms.
The meeting began with a discussion of the history and background of Armenia.
Supervisor Norby, the former Mayor of the City of Fullerton and history teacher,
proved very knowledgeable on matters of Armenian history, culture and religion.
A number of topics were discussed with Supervisor Norby including the current
push in Congress for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the current
status of the Armenian Churches of Etchmiadzin & the Holy See of Cilicia and the
prominence of a number of Armenian figures in world history.
The next portion of the meeting dealt with issues of specific interest to Orange
County’s Armenian Community. ANC members Ara Malazian & Garo Madenlian
spoke with Supervisor Norby about current goals for the Armenian Center located
in Santa Ana including the construction of a gymnasium, the expansion of parking
facilities and the desire to develop programs for the young Armenians of Orange
County.
The meeting concluded with the ANC thanking Supervisor Norby for taking the
time to meet with ANC members and special thanks to Councilman Simonoff for
facilitating the meeting. Supervisor Norby indicated that he was supportive of the
steps that we were taking to improve one of Orange County’s oldest communities
and that he would do all that he could to help us bring the ANC’s goals to fruition.
