From the United States to wear the armero shirt
Rafael Anchia, with origins in Eibar, is a politician who forms part of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations of Barack Obama’s administration and the Democratic Party election campaign with Hillary Clinton.
Like so many families from Eibar, Rafael Anchia’s family had to emigrate to the United States. Its history goes back two generations, which have been able to maintain the ties that join his American family with its roots in Eibar. Anchia in the USA and Antxia from the moment he lands in the Basque Country, he keeps the Basque flame alive with numerous visits to Eibar.
On this occasion, this lawyer, converted in politician and current Democrat party member of the Texas House of Representatives, elected there by the Dallas-based District 103 since 2004, didn’t want to miss the first training session of what is his favourite club, SD Eibar.
Antxia, wearing the azulgrana shirt and accompanied by his daughters Maia and Sofía, was welcomed by the Director, Mikel Larrañaga at the Ipurua Stadium Director's Box. Following a visit of the facilities, he was finally in the stand with the fans where he encouraged Mendilibar’s players in their first pre-season session.
Rafael Anchia has a curriculum worthy of mention: he is chairman of the International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, participates in the Democratic Party election campaign with Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama, forms part of the group of democratic politicians of Basque descent, together with David Bieter (Mayor of Boise, in Idaho) and John Garamendi (member of the United States Congress).
He is involved in myriad activities in support of the Basque diaspora, and was especially active in the recently concluded Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2016 that took place in Washinton D.C. this July, with the Basque Country as an invited country, collaborating closely with the Basque Government through the Department of Economic Development that is led by councillor Arantza Tapia, with whom he attended the festival along with other basque politicians like Markel Olano and Unai Rementeria.