Mike Gatto

Mike Gatto
Ethnicities	American

Mike Gatto Distributes Campaign Material Bearing Illegitimate Endorsement

http://asbarez.com/105976/mike-gatto-distributes-campaign-material-bearing-illegitimate-endorsement/ Friday, October 19th, 2012

Southern California Armenian Democrats

GLENDALE - On Wednesday, October 17 the Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) was notified that Assemblymember Mike Gatto, who is running for reelection in the 43rd district, mailed campaign literature to voters bearing the illegitimate endorsement of SCAD.

`During the May 17, 2012 meeting of SCAD, the organization unanimously voted not to endorse Assemblymember Mike Gatto given his track record on issues of importance to the Armenian-American community,' stated Armond Aghakhanian, SCAD President. `We trust that Assemblymember Gatto will take immediate action to remedy the falsification of endorsements sent by his campaign,' added Aghakhanian.

The campaign literature, which was mailed to Armenian-American voters in the district, also states that Caro Avanessian, the Chair of the California Armenian American Democrats (CAAD), is making the endorsement on behalf of SCAD.

`It may be that Mr. Avanessian has given his personal endorsement to Assemblymember Gatto, which has led to this misrepresentation,' noted SCAD Vice President, David Gevorkyan. `As a member of the SCAD I can attest that Mr. Avanessian does not hold membership with SCAD and as a member of CAAD I can also report that during the October 14, 2012 meeting of CAAD, the membership requested that endorsement decisions follow the organization's bylaws and be put to a vote at a general meeting to be scheduled for a later date,' added Gevorkyan.

It is among SCAD's objectives to ensure fairness, transparency, and honesty in all political proceedings.. A letter addressing this concern has been sent to Assemblymember Mike Gatto insisting that corrective action be taken in the form of a mailer apologizing for this inappropriate action and reaffirming that SCAD made no such endorsement.

Although it focuses its efforts within Southern California, its base of over 400 active members makes SCAD one of the largest Democratic organizations in Los Angeles County, and is the largest Armenian-American Democratic organization in the State of California. As the premier Democratic organization of Armenian-Americans, the organization believes in upholding the integrity and value of the democratic election process.

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