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Deukmejian Forged More Than an Ethnic Connection
Cos Aucjeles dimes
Monday, December 27, 1982
«.<■»»» For Armenians, a Matter of Pride—and Politics
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By CARL INGRAM, Times Staff Writer
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nia homeland.
During a recent panel discussion
among Armenians and blacks at
Fresno State University, Deukmeji-
an's "Armenianness" as a candidate
for governor came in for examination. Some panelists asserted that
he shied away from his ethnicity
while others countered that he ran
not as an Armenian candidate but as
an American candidate.
Mark Malkasian, a worker at
Deukmejian headquarters during
the primary election campaign, told
the panel that Deukmejian's election "illustrated the Armenian ability to melt into the mainstream. It
just showed how successful we are
becoming assimilated, at becoming
good Americans."
But Malkasian added, "Now as far
as the long run, as far as the Armenian community goes, I really don't
see this as a positive aspect. Face it,
We are not going to survive by
FRESNO—Edward Norian, a
baker from the tiny village of Alpine, N.J., last fall sent $200 across
the country to Republican George
Deukmejian's gubernatorial campaign in California.
Pensioner John Eshkonian of
Berwyn, 111., gave $100. And attorney Leo Kolligian of Fresno contributed $2,250.
Why did these Americans of Armenian descent support the campaign of Deukmejian, the first Armenian-American to be elected
governor of any state?
Was it a demonstration of ethnic
unity from the scattered remnants
of a people slaughtered in the early
1900s, whose homeland no longer
exists but whose culture and pride
stubbornly persist?
Or was it simply a matter of supporting a candidate for good
government reasons—his reputation within the Armenian community for integrity, his long experience in both the legislative and executive branches of government,
the belief that Deukmejian was the
better qualified contender? ,
Armenian-Americans interviewed by The Times said they supported Deukmejian for both reasons.
But most emphasized that the
stronger factor was their belief that
he has the qualifications to handle
what many saw as the most important elective political office next to
the presidency.
"I think that most Armenians
feel, like I do, that he was the best
qualified person to fill that office,"
said Leon S. Peters, a foundry and
machine works executive and Armenian community leader in Fres-
'He was the best
qualified person
to fill that office 1
-Leon S. Peters
'Idon't think
there is an Armenian
that is not elated 1
Leo Kolligian
'Success has been
a very difficult
achievment for us.'
-Bernard Guekguezian
no, whose remarks were typical of
most of those interviewed. "The
fact that he was an Armenian, well,
that was a little extra plus for the
Armenians."
Others discussed their ethnic
pride.
Across town, attorney Kolligian,
a Republican and long-time Deukmejian supporter, put it this way:
"It's the first time that we've had
any person of Armenian descent assume such a high office. I don't
think there is an Armenian that is
not elated about the victory."
A Matter of Sharing
The Rev. Bernard Guekguezian
of Fresno, pastor of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, saw the
election of Deukemjian as bringing
to the surface a characterisitic of
many Armenians: the sharing of
achievement and success of other
Armenians.
The Deukmejian victory "created
a tremendous nationalistic pride in
the identification with the achievement," Guekguezian said. "We
haven't had a land, a freedom of our
own for so long. So success has been
a very difficult achievement for us."
For some, such as Berdj Karape-
tian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee political action committee, the election of
Deukmejian to such high office may
provide a powerful voice to speak
out on the Armenian genocide.
By unofficial counts, identifiable
Armenians in the United states total
about 700,000 nationwide and number anywhere from 250,000 to 300,-
000 in California, where they are
centered most heavily in Los Angeles, Fresno and parts of the San
Joaquin Valley.
Please see ETHNIC, Page 14
sembly Utilities and Energy Committee in 1981-82.
The governor-elect now has
filled seven of the 10 cabinet positions and is expected to announce
the remainder by the end of the
week.
He has yet to name the heads of
the business and transportation
agencies and the industrial relations
and food and agriculture departments.
At the same time, Deukmejian
named Arthur G. Scotland, presently assistant to Steven A. Marksa-
mer, executive secretary and chief
of staff, to be his cabinet secretary.
Scotland, 36, was the deputy policy director for Deukmejian's gubernatorial campaign. He will receive
$52,000-a-year in his new position.
Scotland served as an investigator with the Department of Justice
from 1969 to 1971.
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volent Union of America.
The election in 1982 of an Armenian -
American as governor of the nation's
most populous state seems almost beyond
belief to some Armenians whose families
were massacred by Turks and Kurds in a
staggering genocide that started in the
late 1890s and continued for 20 years.
The Minority Rights Group, an international research and education organization based in England, estimates that at
least 1.5 million Armenians were killed in
Turkey and another 500,000 were left
homeless between 1914 and 1918.
To the agonizing frustration of Arme-
niansi the government of Turkey refused
to accept responsibility for the slaughter
and denies any responsibility today; The
ancient land of Armenia, the first to accept Christianity as its national religion
around AD 300, now is split up between
Russia, Iran and Turkey.
One survey taken by pollster Mervin
Field shortly before the Nov. 2 election,
however, found that 12% of those sampled indicated that they would be inclined not to vote for an Armenian. The
same poll showed that 5% would be disinclined to vote for a black.
Deukmejian defeated Democrat Tom
Bradley, the black mayor of Los Angeles,
by 1.2% of the vote—the closest California gubernatorial race in this century.
It is generally assumed that most Cali-
fornians of Armenian ancestry voted for
Deukmejian. However, some did not.
"There were some Armenian Democrats who did not vote for Deukmejian,"
said foundry president Peters, a Republican. "Many that I know didn't. They
couldn't unshackle themselves from
their own strong political beliefs."
Please see ETHNIC, Page IS
RAY HOY
Attorney Henry Tutunjian at ease in his office in Troy, N.Y.: "From
time to time I say, 'Hey, how come I haven't seen California.'"
College Buddy to Watch as
'Corky'Deukmejian Takes Over
By NANCY SKELTON, Times Staff Writer
For Henry Tutunjian, it's like it
happened yesterday. Corky Deukmejian asked him to go out to California with him in 1955, and Henry
said "no."
"We met on the corner of State
and Pearl streets in downtown Albany (N.Y.), and we talked there
for a while. Corky said he was heading out to California to see what it
was all about, and he wanted me to
go.
"We talked about starting a law
practice together. But I was courting my wife. For me, it was just not
possible," Tutunjian recalled.
So Corky went alone. Before long,
he was getting more than a little involved in California Republican
politics.
Next Monday, Courken George
Deukmejian Jr. will be inaugurated
as the 35th governor of the Golden
State. And Tutunjian—on his first
trip west—will have a ringside seat
in Sacramento.
"Who knows that might have
happened had I gone with Corky,"
Tutunjian said of that turning-point
day almost 28 years ago in upstate
New York. "From time to time I
Please see BUDDY, Page 15
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