Windsor Village resident Julie Stromberg ran in elections over the weekend to be a delegate for the California Democratic Party, representing Assembly District 50, which covers our local neighborhoods.
Stromberg, who also serves on the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, narrowly missed winning a delegate spot by a slim six-vote margin…but she won the right to be the first female alternate, should one of the seven women elected not be able to serve. Her campaign gathered support from lots of neighbors who trekked out to the Santa Monica Public Library to vote on Sunday. Voting was held in Santa Monica, even though the district covers a wide swath of neighborhoods from Hancock Park west to the Pacific Palisades.
By all accounts, it was an unprecedented turnout — 1,030 people braved the Golden Globe traffic and stood in line for more than an hour to cast their ballot. The recent elections were cited by many as the reason they chose to get involved in the process.
Stromberg ran on the Grassroots Slate, a group of newcomers hoping to shake up the traditional local Democratic party.  The group won a majority of seats, taking 8 out of 14, including both male and female first alternate positions.
“We ended a decade-long slate monopoly on the district, and changed the dynamic of the 50th AD for years to come,” said the group in an email sent to voters thanking them for turning out.Â
Stromberg said she ran so she could represent this neighborhood.
“One of the reasons why I ran was to engage more people and grow, as well as diversify, the CA Democratic Party. I want my community to have a seat at the table. I accomplished that goal by recruiting friends to vote in this election for the first time, to register as Democrats for the first time, and even to switch parties!” wrote Stromberg on her Facebook page.
Nancy Kim, a community organizer and member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Coucnil, also ran for a delegate spot in AD53,  which covers the eastern part of our neighborhood.  Final results of the elections in AD53 were not yet available as of this morning.
