By Hector Gonzalez
Staff Writer

January 13, 2015--Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown is among five local residents who’ll represent the 50th Assembly District as delegates to the state Democratic Party Central Committee, a party official announced Monday.

McKeown, his wife Genise Schnitman and fellow Santa Monicans Jessica Yas, Dr. Sion Roy and Jon Katz are part of a 14-member slate of progressive candidates — seven men and seven women — elected Sunday as delegates for the 50th District, which includes Santa Monica, Roy said.

McKeown, formerly a staunch member of the State Green Party, tied as the highest vote-getter in Sunday’s election at the Beverly Hills Library. After championing the State Green Party during his 6 ½ years as a member, McKeown left the party in 2005 in the wake a financial controversy involving the use of donations.

McKeown now also serves as Southern California vice-chair of the state Democratic Party’s Irish-American Caucus, according to a campaign flyer for the 14-member slate of progressive candidates.

“Santa Monica is a leader on progressive issues, and I’m proud to carry those issues with me into the state Democratic Party process—on policy, platform and endorsements,” McKeown said Monday.

Three of the local delegates, Roy, Katz and Schnitman, are members of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. Katz is a Democratic activist who has worked for the campaign of state Sen. Ted Lieu. Yas is a community organizer and activist, according to the flyer.

“It was great to run with a great group of progressives,” Roy said Monday. “I look forward to advocating for our progressive platform.”
As a delegate Roy, a cardiologist, said he plans to advocate for increased access to quality health care and public education, closing the achievement gap between white and non-white students, and anti-poverty measures, among other issues.

The 14 new delegates will represent the 50th District at state party functions for the next two years, including the Democratic Party State Convention on May 15 in Anaheim.