Irma Lemus and Judy Seckler
PASADENA -- Calling a recent mailer by state Sen. Adam Schiff
(D-Burbank) a cheap shot at Rep. James Rogan (R-Burbank), his opponent in
the 27th Congressional District race, a group of Armenian residents
protested outside of the legislator's Pasadena office.
Displaying a giant size copy of the Sept. 4 letter, about a dozen
Armenian community members on Thursday said the campaign piece mailed to
district voters was misleading and warranted an apology.
Schiff's letter criticized Rogan's support of legislation calling for
official U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. In the letter, Schiff
stated his opponent joined the cause because of the upcoming election. He
also said Rogan had a poor record on issues concerning Armenian voters.
"The letter was misleading it should have said clearly that is was for
the campaign," said Albert Abkarian, a Glendale attorney and one of those
protesting.
Abkarian said the letter was not identified as a campaign mailer but
was instead made to look like an official letter from the state senator.
"An uneducated person would have been confused," he said.
Schiff campaign consultant Parke Skelton stood behind the mailer.
"Only after realizing that he was in a tough fight for reelection did
Rogan start taking {notice} of Armenian concerns," Skelton said.
Rogan's attempts to reach out to Armenians have little to do with
representing the Armenian community, he said.
"Rogan's record shows that he has not accomplished anything. It's only
in the past two weeks that he's supported the issues," Skelton said.
Rogan press secretary Jeffrey Solsby said the mailer was insulting.
"It's arrogant of Adam Schiff to claim that Jim Rogan is not working
to preserve the memory of the Armenian Genocide when he's been working
tooth and nail to have the bill heard," Solsby said Thursday. "Just today
Jim got 135 representatives in Congress to hear the bill," he said.
Solsby said Rogan has supported Armenian issues throughout his term in
Congress.
