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Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ 2006-10-27
Contact: Shari Ardhaldjian ~ 617-926-1890 |
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF MASSACHUSETTS RELEASE
STATE BASED ENDORSEMENTS |
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--And a reminder to get out the vote |
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Watertown, MA - The Armenian National Committees of Massachusetts released their endorsements for the 2006 General Election, calling on the Commonwealth‚s Armenian American community to get out the vote.
"We hope the ANC‚s endorsements will be a resource for Armenian American voters as they make educated decisions at the polls on November 7th," said George Aghjayan, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Central Massachusetts.
"Armenian Americans deserve to know the facts about the candidates running for elected offices here in Massachusetts,” added Aghjayan. “We will continue our Get Out the Vote Efforts through November 7 encouraging Massachusetts Armenian Americans to go the polls and cast informed votes for our friends, beginning with the Deval Patrick/Tim Murray ticket for Governor and Lt. Governor a ticket about which I am truly excited. Deval Patrick and Tim Murray have a strong record of principled leadership on issues facing our community. The choice is clear for Armenian-Americans and the people of Massachusetts."
In the gubernatorial election the ANC based its decision on the strong record of leadership and integrity of the Patrick/Murray team and on the candidates‚ responses to the ANC‚s Candidate Questionnaire.
The Candidate Questionnaire featured 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 Patrick 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 also 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.”
In line with his commitment to justice and tolerance, in 2001 Tim Murray traveled to Washington , DC to attend the ANCA‚s Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian Genocide. During that visit, Tim visited Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and urged them to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. Tim has consistently participated in Worcester-area events commemorating the Armenian Genocide. And, in 2005, Tim sent a letter expressing his hope that Attorney General Tom Reilly would vigilantly defend the state‚s right to design curricular materials for public schools in light of the lawsuit brought against the state by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations claiming that the human rights and genocide curriculum guidelines unfairly omit Turkish denialist websites.
The endorsements for Members of Congress and the United States Senate were based primarily on the Armenian National Committee of America Congressional Report Card, a detailed review of each incumbent's record across a broad range of Armenian American issues. The Report Cards, prepared in consultation with local ANC chapters across the country, cover issues ranging from securing a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide and the strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations to defending Nagorno Karabagh's independence and increasing U.S. aid and trade levels.
Individuals needing information about where to vote should visit
www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php or contact the Armenian National Committee at 617-926-1918 or ancem@hotmail.com.
For more information on the Patrick-Murray endorsement, individuals may visit: www.armeniansforpatrick-murray.com. And, for more complete information about Congressional grading criteria as well as reviewing individual ANCA Report Cards individuals may visit the ANCA Website, www.anca.org.
A complete list of the ANC endorsements for the Massachusetts General Election is below:
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ANC Endorsements -Massachusetts General Election 2006
Massachusetts Governor: Deval Patrick
Massachusetts Lt. Governor: Tim Murray
United States Senate: Edward M. Kennedy (D)
US House of Representatives
District 1: John Olver (D)
District 2: Richard Neal (D)
District 3: Jim McGovern (D)
District 4: Barney Frank (D)
District 5: Martin Meehan (D)
District 6: John Tierney (D)
District 7: Edward Markey (D)
District 8: Michael Capuano (D)
District 9: Stephen Lynch (D)
District 10: William Delahunt (D)
Massachusetts State House Races
10th Middlesex: District: Peter Koutoujian
29th Middlesex District: Rachel Kaprielian
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