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Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue Watertown MA 02472
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ 2006-10-24
Contact: Shari Ardhaldjian ~ 617-926-1918 |
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR CANDIDATE SCORES
100% ON ANC QUESTIONNAIRE
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-- Deval Patrick Signals Support for Genocide Recognition,
Genocide Education in the Public Schools, Exchange Programs,
and broad relations with the Armenian American community |
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Watertown, MA -- In a move welcomed by Massachusetts’ large Armenian American community, Massachusetts Gubernatorial hopeful Deval Patrick responded positively to each of the seven questions on the Armenian National Committees of Massachusetts Candidate Questionnaire.
The Candidate Questionnaire features nine questions related to issues of special concern to the Armenian American community including recognition of the Armenian Genocide; support for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; exchange programs with Armenia; Genocide Education in the Public School Curriculum; and relations with the Armenian American Community.
In response to a question regarding the government of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, Deval stated, “I am appalled by the campaign of the Turkish government to characterize the Armenian Genocide as something else. And, I strongly oppose efforts … to compel local schools to teach genocide denial.”
Deval responded that he would encourage the consideration of exchange programs, commissions, and other state level initiatives to promote increased trade, investment, cross-cultural understanding, and cooperation with Armenia.
And he further noted that he looks “forward to maintaining and broadening my relationships with the Armenian American community.”
Deval Patrick is running against the current Lt. Governor Kerry Healey to succeed Governor Mitt Romney. The race is considered to be among the most watched in the nation.
Deval Patrick served in the Clinton Administration as Attorney General for Civil Rights, the nation's top civil rights post. Deval worked on a wide range of issues at the Justice Department including the investigation of church burnings throughout the South in the mid-1990s, prosecution of hate crimes and abortion clinic violence, cases of employment discrimination, and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Deval was in private practice with the Boston Firm of Day, Berry & Howard when he was appointed by a federal district court to serve as the first chairperson of Texaco's Equality and Fairness Task Force, by following the settlement of a significant race discrimination case at the company. Recognizing Deval’s ability to bring people together to get things done, Texaco hired Deval as Vice President and General Counsel in 1999, placing him in charge of its global legal affairs. Later, Deval joined The Coca-Cola Company as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. He was elected to the additional position of Corporate Secretary in 2002.
Those interested in learning Kerry Healey’s positions on Armenian American issues can contact her campaign and urge her to complete the ANCA Candidate Questionnaire. Matt St Hilaire, Healey campaign Political Director, can be reached by phone through the campaign’s operator at 617-523-0844 or via email at msthilaire@healeycommittee.com.
The ANCs of Massachusetts with chapters in Western Massachusetts, Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley, and Eastern Massachusetts serve to inform, educate, and act on a wide range of issues concerning Armenian Americans throughout the state of Massachusetts.
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