February 8, 2002

State Assembly Candidate Steve Samuelian Meets Bay Area Community Members

Sunday, January 27 - Armenian National Committee member Steve Samuelian, who's running for the Fresno area state Assembly seat and faces a Republican primary election on March 5th, spoke to Bay Area Armenian-Americans gathered at the Armenian Community Center in San Francisco about the need for Armenian-Americans to become a stronger presence in the political battlefield.

"I'm going to go as far as I can to help Hai Tad," said Samuelian. "I'm proud of my Republican involvement, but being Armenian and my pride in our heritage supersedes my political party."

Samuelian was introduced by Fresno ANC Board Member Apo Saghdigian as someone who came to the Fresno area seven years ago as a young, enthusiastic activist who began working with ANC and learning the political issues important to Armenian-Americans alongside his many other political activities.  He then put that knowledge to work in his position as District Director for Congressman George Radanovich, and the results were clear gains in legislation in Congress which addressed the concerns of Armenian-American citizens.

"I realized quickly that the ANC and ARF are the organizations that are the torchbearers of Armenianism," said Samuelian.  "They're the ones that raised the tricolor flag before it was popular, when others shied away from it."

Samuelian spoke passionately about the need for more Armenian-Americans to become involved in politics.  "We have a $3 million per year lobby working against us every day.  We're surrounded by enemies - Turks, Azeris, the oil lobby, the State Department.  They're against us everywhere, on all our issues.  Our battle is not on the battlefield anymore.  It's a political battle, and if we back away from that battle, that won't stop the opposition from telling Congressmen that Armenia doesn't need aid, the Genocide should not be recognized, or that Karabagh is part of Azerbaijan..."

To illustrate his point, Samuelian told a story in which Congressman Radanovich, having just spoken about the Armenian Genocide on the House floor, was approached by another Congressman who said, "George, tell the Armenians to get over it."  He also recounted a meeting with the Consul General of Israel, who had been making the rounds of California congressional offices.  When asked how the Jewish lobby became so powerful, the Consul told Samuelian, 'We have focused all of our energies on politics.'

"It's hard but we have to do it," said Samuelian.  "Each community has its activists, but we need more.  We should be focused on getting more Armenian-Americans in politics, beginning with getting more interns in political office," advised Samuelian.

Steve Samuelian has been involved in politics for over twenty years, and has served on the ANC Central California Board of Directors.  Formerly, as District Director for Congressman George Radanovich, Samuelian took the lead role in building the Congressman's record on Armenian-American issues in the House of Representatives.  In addition to working with the congressman on Armenian Genocide Recognition, increasing aid to Armenia and restricting aid to Azerbaijan until it lifts its blockades, Samuelian crafted legislation to cut aid to Turkey until it recognizes the Armenian Genocide.

Samuelian has also served as State Central Committee Member since 1989 and Executive Committee Member since 1991.  He was the Central Valley Co-Chairman of George W. Bush's campaign for President.  He was also the Vice President and Co-Founder of the Young Republican Federation of California.   Samuelian has always brought his knowledge of issues important to Armenian-Americans into policy discussions wherever he's involved.

He continues to contribute his expertise to many Central Valley organizations, including the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, Fresno United Way, Fresno Crimestoppers, and the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno.

Although Samuelian is the leading candidate in the Republican Primary and has received the endorsements of key politicians and community groups, his opponent has recently gained ground by infusing his campaign with hundreds of thousands of dollars of his personal wealth, allowing him to gain recognition quickly.  Samuelian said that if he can succeed in the primary which is one of the three most-watched races in the state, the task of winning the election should be substantially easier, since his district has the heaviest concentration of Republicans in California.