Katcho Achadjian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katcho Achadjian
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| Member of the California State Assembly from the 35th district 33rd district (2010–2012) |
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| In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Blakeslee |
| Succeeded by | Jordan Cunningham |
| Member of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors from the 4th District | |
| In office December 7, 1998 – December 6, 2010 |
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| Succeeded by | Paul Teixeira |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Khatchik Hratchia Achadjian
June 2, 1951 Jalala, Lebanon |
| Died | March 5, 2020 (aged 68) San Luis Obispo, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Araxie Achadjian |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Arroyo Grande, California |
| Alma mater | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| Profession | Business Owner, Politician |
Katcho Achadjian (born Khatchik Hratchia Achadjian on June 2, 1951 – died March 5, 2020) was an American businessman and politician. He was born in Lebanon to Armenian parents. Achadjian was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the California State Assembly, which is part of California's state government. He represented areas like San Luis Obispo County and part of Santa Barbara County. Before joining the State Assembly, he also served on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.
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Katcho Achadjian's Early Life and Education
Katcho Achadjian was born in a place called Jalala, near Chtaura in Lebanon. His parents were Armenian. In 1971, when he was 20 years old, he moved to the United States. He became a United States citizen in 1982.
He went to school in Lebanon, first at the Armenian Evangelical Elementary School and then a secondary school in Anjar. After moving to the U.S., he studied at Cuesta College. He then graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Business Administration. In 1984, he married his wife, Araxie.
Achadjian was also a successful businessman. In 1978, he bought a small business. Over time, this business grew into many stores and gas stations across San Luis Obispo County.
Serving His Community: Board of Supervisors
Katcho Achadjian started his political career by serving on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. This board helps manage the local government for the county. He was first elected to this position in 1998. He served on the board until 2010, when he was elected to the State Assembly. During his time on the board, he was chosen to be the chairman twice, in 2001 and 2006.
Becoming a State Assembly Member
In 2010, Katcho Achadjian ran for the California State Assembly. The State Assembly is one of the two parts of California's state legislature, where laws are made. He ran as a Republican for the 33rd district. He won the election with 58% of the votes.
Winning Elections for the Assembly
After 2010, the voting districts were changed. In 2012, Achadjian ran for the newly drawn 35th district. He won the primary election with 65% of the votes. In the main election, he won again with 61% of the votes.
He ran for a third term in 2014 for the same 35th district. He won the primary election with 65% of the votes. In the general election, he won with 63% of the votes.
During his time in the Assembly, many business groups gave him high scores for his voting record. These groups included the California Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. This showed that he supported policies that helped businesses.
Working in Committees
While in the California Assembly, Achadjian was part of several important committees. These committees study different topics and help create new laws. His committee assignments included:
- Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance
- Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy
- Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs
- Assembly Joint Committee on Fairs, Allocations, and Classification
- Assembly Joint Committee on Fisheries and Antiquities
- Assembly Joint Legislative Audit
Running for the U.S. Congress
In 2015, Katcho Achadjian decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the entire country. He ran for the 24th congressional district in the 2016 elections. The person who held that seat before him decided not to run again, so many people ran for the position.
Achadjian had a lot of support from other Republicans in the area. He also raised a good amount of money for his campaign. Many people thought he would do well because he was well-known. However, in the primary election, he came in third place. This meant he did not move on to the final election.
Later Life and Passing
Katcho Achadjian passed away peacefully on March 5, 2020. He was 68 years old. His death was due to health complications.
