Members of the Armenian National Committee of Orange County had
meetings with OC Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Campbell and OC
Board of Supervisors member Lou Correa. Marty Simonoff, Mayor Pro Tem
of the city of Brea and candidate for the 72nd State Assembly seat facilitated
the meeting with Chairman Campbell.
Both meetings were held at the County Board of Supervisor’s Offices in
Santa Ana, CA. During the course of the meetings ANC members discussed
in detail a number of issues of importance to the Armenian Community in
Orange County. The first topic addressed was the participation of Armenian
representatives on advisory councils and bodies for the County of Orange.
Chairman Campbell and Board member Lou Correa both responded with a
number of suggestions on ways in which representatives from the Armenian
Community could make their contributions to the County of Orange. They
explained the importance of having all members of Orange County’s various
communities being able to participate in the County’s decision making
processes and have their voices heard.
The discussion then moved on to other matters of importance to members of
Orange County’s Armenian community. Further development of the complex
in Santa Ana that houses the Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church, the
Ari Guiragos Minassian School and the Orange County Armenian Center
was at the forefront of that discussion. The ANC members explained some
of the plans and objectives for further enhancing the site to be of greater
use to the community, and specifically the youth.
Supervisor Correa promised to look into the plans to enhance the
community center, and arranged for a visit by one of his staff members. The
Supervisor also committed to attending the AG Minassian schools annual
banquet, celebrating 20 years of educating young Armenian Americans.
Supervisor Correa is familiar with the Armenian American community in
Orange county. While a member of the CA State Assmebly he attended the
ground breaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies for the recently built
Armenian Community Center.
There were also discussions with Supervisor Campbell regarding past
requests for proclamations from the Orange County Board of Supervisors
regarding the Armenian Genocide. Supervisor Campbell highlighted some
of the discussions that had taken place in years past between members of
Orange County’s Armenian Community and members of the Turkish
community in Orange County regarding Genocide recognition. Mayor Pro
Tem Simonoff explained that while the issue had been contentious in years
past, the Genocide was no longer an issue in the State of California
following the passage of S.B. 424 in April of 2005. With the passage of that
bill the State of California formally recognized the Armenian Genocide and
endorsed its commemoration on April 24th of each year.
The meeting with Chairman Campbell concluded with a brief discussion of
Mr. Simonoff’s upcoming bid for election to the State Assembly. The ANC
members reiterated their support for Mr. Simonoff and let it be known that
they would be asking for help from the entire Armenian American community
in OC to help Mr. Simonoff succeed in his upcoming election bid.
