’An American success story’: Central Coast mourns assemblyman, supervisor Katcho Achadjian
Khatchik “Katcho” Achadjian, a longtime local politician who served as both a state assemblyman and San Luis Obispo County supervisor, has died.
Achadjian died in San Luis Obispo on Thursday morning due to health complications, his family said in a statement. He was 68 years old.
Achadjian was a prominent Republican figure on the Central Coast. He was elected to the county Board of Supervisors in 1998 and served until he was elected to the California State Assembly in 2010 to represent the 33rd District, and later the 35th District.
A South County businessman as well, Achadjian was known for his ability to broker compromises on both sides of the political aisle, conservative and liberal — a skill that earned him the unofficial title of “man in the middle.”
In a statement released to the media by a spokesperson, Achadjian’s family said they were thankful for the support and sympathy from the many friends of their father and husband.
“The outpouring of calls, messages and prayers is a true testament and reminder of how many lives Katcho touched,” the statement read. “At this time, the family appreciates privacy as they mourn the loss of a remarkable husband, father and public servant.”
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made “in memory of Katcho” to the Senior Nutrition Program of San Luis Obispo County and/or End Kids Cancer Foundation.
“Katcho cared deeply about advocating for those in need, especially the youth and the elderly in our community,” the statement concluded.
From Lebanon to SLO County Board of Supervisors
Achadjian came to the Central Coast from Lebanon in 1971.
As a young man, he followed his sister to the United States and to Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. After he graduated from Cal Poly with a business administration degree, Achadjian intended to go back to Lebanon, but war broke out and his family urged him to stay.
While attending Cal Poly, Achadjian worked at a Shell gas station in Arroyo Grande. When the owners decided to sell, Achadjian bought the business.
By the time he ran for supervisor in 1997, Achadjian owned three gas stations in Arroyo Grande and sat on a number of South County boards, as well as the California Mid-State Fair board. That dedication to community was another classic Achadjian characteristic.
“I had to ask myself, why should I run?” Achadjian told The Tribune in April 1998 during his campaign for District 4 supervisor. “My own decision was, after I got my wife’s OK to do this, it’s just another avenue to serve the community.”
As supervisor, Achadjian was often heralded for his nonpartisan take on the issues — he was “swing vote, king maker, peacemaker,” one Tribune writer wrote in a 2000 profile.
Another Tribune editorial from 2002 called Achadjian “the shepherd of consensus” thanks to his mediation between city and county officials on the Dalidio project, the controversial San Luis Obispo housing project that is known as San Luis Ranch today.
Notable among decisions during Achadjian’s terms on the board was the push to shutter the county-funded General Hospital in San Luis Obispo in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Achadjian was one of the last hold-out supporters of the public hospital, even saving it from closure in 1999 with his quintessential swing vote. But by 2002, the writing was on the wall for the ill-fated hospital, and even Achadjian had to step back and accept its closure.
While on the board, Achadjian was known to be an advocate for businesses and a savvy financial mind who helped to balance budgets during a difficult time for the county.
That kind of pressure, of course, wasn’t easy.
“I’ve been told that you go into politics with more friends and come out with fewer,” he was quoted saying in the 2000 profile. “I think that’s true.”
But even then, arguably at the start of his political career, Achadjian was proud of what he had accomplished.
“I have proven to be who I am,” he said.
California State Assembly career
By 2009, Achadjian had set his sights on a much higher office.
Achadjian announced plans that year to run for the soon-to-be-open 33rd District Assembly seat, representing San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties.
“This is the time,” he said in a 2009 Tribune article, noting that the often negative treatment from the state toward the county at that time had always been “a bug in (his) head.”
In 2010, Achadjian defeated Santa Maria Democrat Hilda Zacarias with 58% of the vote.
During his tenure on the Assembly, which would see a redistricting change that would move him from the 33rd District to 35th District, Achadjian was a passionate advocate for his community and constituents.
He authored Assembly Bill 65 in 2013, which closed a decades-old loophole in state law that added impersonating a person’s cohabitant, boyfriend or girlfriend to have sex to the state’s definition of rape. Prior to that the law only included impersonating one’s spouse in the definition.
He co-authored a bill to require school districts to include the Armenian genocide in their teachings, and include Armenian genocide survivor testimonies in their teaching of human rights.
During his time with the Assembly, Achadjian served on committees including Veterans Affairs, Banking and Finance, and Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy.
He would also continue his reputation as someone who didn’t vote only along party lines.
In 2010, Achadjian signed a “no new tax” pledge and pushed for cost-cutting measures at the state level.
In 2013, he notably was the only Republican in the state Legislature to vote in favor of bills expanding Medi-Cal to cover low-income Californians, despite his opposition to the Affordable Care Act.
In 2014, he pushed for the creation of a special water district in Paso Robles to help manage its groundwater basin.
That same year, during what would be his final campaign for state Assembly, Achadjian talked about his penchant for mediating between sides.
“Politics is like a marriage,” he said then. “You can’t just walk away the first time you disagree. You work through it. Whether I agree or disagree, I always do so based on facts. That’s the only way to make a bill that can be successful.”
In 2016, facing his term limit in the Assembly, Achadjian made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was ousted in the primary by Republican Justin Fareed and current Rep. Salud Carbjal.
In a thank you letter to supporters after that race, Achadjian described his political career as a pursuit of the American dream.
“My immediate impression of this country when I arrived as a young man to further my education was that the United States issues forth a spirit of democracy like no other nation in the world,” Achadjian wrote. “I have been privileged to pursue the American dream, to educate myself, to tackle the challenges of free enterprise, and to assume leadership roles in democratic systems for the past 18 years.”
He concluded the letter by pledging that “I will continue to serve the people of California’s 35th State Assembly District with all my energies until the last day of this legislative session.”
Katcho Achadjian was ‘gold standard for public service’
Jordan Cunningham, who succeeded Achadjian as 35th District assemblyman, issued a statement on Achadjian’s legacy on Thursday evening.
”Katcho was my friend and mentor,” Cunningham said. “He was a true public servant and an American success story. Katcho leaves a legacy of devotion to community, energetic representation, and consensus-building. Our sincerest condolences to his family for their loss. Today is a sad day for the Central Coast.”
State Senator Bill Monning described Achadjian as a “true public servant” and “great man.”
“Katcho was a Republican. I am a Democrat,” Monning wrote to The Tribune in an email Friday morning. “We became friends, worked together on legislation to serve the community we both represented, and relied upon our friendship and mutual respect to guide us through our political differences and disagreements.
“During our overlapping tenure in the State Assembly, Katcho was looked upon by all as a man who voted his conscience.”
Monning said that, after Achadjian left the State Assembly, the two would see each other around San Luis Obispo County or in Sacramento — especially when Achadjian was teaching political science courses at Cal Poly.
“I will remember Katcho Achadjian as a kind and decent man, a man who drew his inspiration for public service from his boundless love for his family and his love for the people he represented,” Monning said. “California has lost a dedicated public servant. May Katcho’s spirit live with all those he served and with the many, many people who loved him.”
Others who knew or worked with Achadjian took to Facebook on Thursday night to mourn his passing.
“My heart aches with this news,” 10th District Assembly member Marc Levine wrote on Facebook. “Katcho was such a wonderful partner and colleague during my first two terms in the Assembly.”
Grover Beach Councilwoman Mariam Shah called Achadjian “a great leader.”
“Our politics probably weren’t similar, but I never even knew that,” she said. “He was my representative. He cared so much about our community and always made time for Grover Beach. He was truly a role model — and extremely ethical politician who was doing the job for no other reason but to do the job well. No one worked harder.”
Arroyo Grande Mayor Caren Ray Russom, who also served as District 4 supervisor, described Achadjian as a mentor.
“Katcho was the gold standard for public service, and was my greatest mentor for leadership,” she told The Tribune late Thursday night. “I will always remember his kindness, his advice, and his help in making me the best leader I can be.”
Russom on Friday announced the city of Arroyo Grande’s flags will be kept at half mast through the end of his funeral services.
The city also started a memorial book for the Achadjian family in which community members can share memories of him. Those who wish to make an entry can do so at the Arroyo Grande City Hall at 300 E. Branch St.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 7:45 PM.
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