GLENDALE, Calif.—The Armenian National Committee of America-—Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced Friday its endorsement of Danny Tarkanian, Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Nevada. Tarkanian will be facing incumbent Senator Dean Heller in the 2018 primary.
“As the grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, Danny Tarkanian is committed to the cause for justice not just for his own family, but for all Armenians. Having him in the United States Senate will surely empower our community, and we look forward to working closely with him to achieve our common goals,” said ANCA-WR Chairperson Nora Hovsepian.
“I am honored and grateful to receive ANCA-WR’s endorsement and look forward to working with them during my campaign and after elected as the first American Armenian US Senator on issues of importance to our country and the Armenian-American community. As someone whose grandparents lived through the Genocide, I will be a strong voice for improving the bilateral relations between Armenia and the United States, and I will work tirelessly alongside ANCA-WR towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States government,” said Tarkanian.
A prominent businessperson and son of a renowned college basketball coach, the late Jerry Tarkanian, who was honored at the ANCA-WR Gala Banquet in 2013 as the “People’s Champion,” and Las Vegas City Council member Lois Tarkanian, Danny has proven to be a passionate advocate of Armenian-American issues. In the past, the ANCA had endorsed Tarkanian, when he narrowly lost his bid for Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District in 2016.
Tarkanian, a candidate familiar to the political arena, has worked consistently to galvanize the support of the people of Nevada. He’s widely known in the state as a strong candidate.
“Danny Tarkanian and the Tarkanian family have been great supporters of the Armenian community in Las Vegas. They have contributed not only with the proud legacy of Danny’s late father, Jerry Tarkanian, Las Vegas’ iconic and beloved UNLV basketball coach, but also with Lois’s dedication to our community, including recounting of genocide stories she heard from Jerry’s surviving family at the Centennial Commemoration. Danny and his family are with the Armenian community every step of the way as major donors to the Armenian Genocide Monument in Clark County, a memorial plaque and tree at UNLV as a tribute to Armenian Genocide survivors, and supporting every significant community event from genocide commemoration, Independence Day celebrations & telethons in Las Vegas,” said ANCA Nevada co-chair Lenna Hovanessian.
Tarkanian is the founder of the nonprofit Tarkanian Basketball Academy, an organization that helps at-risk youth develop basketball and life skills. He earned his bachelor’s degree at UNLV, and his law degree at the University of San Diego. He’s worked as a lawyer, served as assistant coach with his father in Division I basketball, and started his own real estate development firm. Danny and his wife, Amy, together have four children.
“Tarkanian, a Las Vegas native since age 12, has been a pillar and supporter of the Las Vegas-Armenian community. He and his dedicated wife, Amy Tarkanian, have always been present at our community events. Recently, in June 2015, Danny and his two daughters, Lois and Ava, visited Armenia for the first time and fell in love with Armenia’s nature and culture and reinvigorated their passion toward the Armenian-American community,” added ANCA Nevada co-chair Hera Armenian.
To learn more about his campaign or to volunteer, please visit dannytarkanian.com.
The ANCA-WR is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
Guest Contributor
Latest posts by Guest Contributor (see all)
- Mourad Armenian School celebrates 90 years - April 17, 2024
- ARS & Hamazkayin celebrate Sona Zeitlian’s trailblazing 70 years of service jubilee - April 16, 2024
- Illinois communities hold flag raisings to commemorate Armenian Genocide - April 16, 2024
2 Comments To "ANCA-WR Endorses Danny Tarkanian for U.S. Senate"
#1 Comment By Mihran On December 11, 2017 @ 11:51 am
Its the right move by ANCA-WR. All Armenian organisations must fully support Danny for the senate seat in 2018.We need to be more smart and not put all our eggs in the democratic party basket, we also need to establish good relations with Trump or else we will never be able to push any of our agenda in the congress.If Trump says something he fully delivers it unlike the rest, I have the Genocide issue in my mind.We have all seen past democratic party candidates lie and fool us time after time the last one being Obama where as it was Republican R.Reagan who delivered the goods to the Armenian nation so lets not ignore this very important fact.
I would hope they will do the same for Johnny J. Nalbandian for California’s 28th Congressional District.
#2 Comment By justaneducator On December 15, 2017 @ 12:22 pm
I am an Arnemian American and about Mr. Tarkanian’s age. So I have seen and witnessed how republican presidents also lied to Armenian people and forgot about their promises right after they got elected. If it was a true republican president, not Trump, I would not hesitate and give my voice to Mr. Tarkanian, but we see how Trump is against majority of Americans and that idea that he could even say he will do something about the genocide has faded a long time ago. This man is a perfect example of a con artist and Mr. Tarkanian does anything Mr. Trump says. That gives me absolutely no confidence in giving my voice to him. Genocide is an Armenian issue. My grandparents also were survivors of genocide, but only Armenians by siding with Armenia have to solve this issue. Stop throwing in this painful reminder and get comfortable seats for yourselves.