Delegates to the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention from Assembly District 56 have been chosen. The group of seven women and seven men includes a robust number of millennials, the future of the party.

The women delegates elected were: Kimberly Barraza, Erin Teran, Yurii Camacho, Katia Lopez, Kimberly Miranda, Maria Guzman, Haydee Rodriguez. Runners-up were, in order, Lynne O’ Neill and Mary Jane Sanchez.

Male delegates chosen were: Neftali Galarza, Isauro Meza, Miguel Romero, Adonis Galarza, Rubèn Pèrez, Tomas Oliva, Ramon Castro. The runners-up, in order, were Carlos Velazquez and Alan Carvalho.

“I would like to congratulate our new ADEM delegates and thank all who participated in the election process,” Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia told Uken Report. “This year, it was especially nice to see so many young adults getting involved to help represent their community. Out of the 14 available positions, four members of our team (two male and two female) were elected.”

The 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention will be held May 31 – June 2, 2019 in San Francisco.

One of the delegates elected, Rubèn Pèrez, is quickly making a name for himself on the political scene.  In November, Pérez was elected Area 1 Trustee for the Desert Community College District Board of Trustees. He became the first locally born Trustee to serve from the city of Coachella. He is also the first locally born Latino to serve on the board.

Now, he is one of seven male delegates from Assembly District 56.

The always consummate gentleman, Pèrez said that first and foremost he would like to congratulate all the candidates who decided to run for delegate. Twenty-two people ran this year and everyone should be applauded for their desire to serve their community and the 56th Assembly District, he said.

“I would also like to thank all those who took time out of their busy schedule to come out and vote on a rainy Saturday and all those who volunteered,” Pérez told Uken Report. “I am thrilled to see a youthful movement within the party in the area and I’m excited that four of those who were elected delegate, including myself, are from Assemblymember (Garcia’s office). This is a testament to all the good work the Assemblymember is doing and the faith people have in us.”

Pérez continued, “As for me, it is an honor to be entrusted by voters to serve my community in this capacity. It is my passion to serve the community that raised me— the community that I love. I hope to be a voice for constituents throughout the 56th Assembly District, encompassing the Coachella, Imperial and Palo Verde valleys. It is an honor to participate and it is an honor to have received folks’ vote of confidence and represent the district at the statewide convention.”

The Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMS) are held every two years (Saturday, January 12 or Sunday, January 13 and Saturday, January 26 or Sunday, January 27 of 2019) to elect seven “self-identified female” and seven “other than self-identified female” to be Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) to represent the Assembly District in which they are registered as a Democrat.

AD Delegates to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) are responsible for planning and attending informational meetings throughout the region and working with other DSCC delegates throughout California to represent their community.

AD Delegates are elected by voters (to participate in the ADEM you MUST be a registered Democrat in that Assembly District).

AD Delegates vote on behalf of the community they represent at CDP Regional Meetings, the California Democratic Party Convention, and those who are also elected to serve as an Executive Board member are responsible for voting and representing their community at the semi-annual E-Board meetings.