Kevin McKeown has served six consecutive terms on Santa Monica City Council and two terms as mayor. He suddenly retired on Tuesday night.
Holy mic drop, Batman!
Kevin McKeown — the two term mayor and forever-long City Council member — stole the news cycle Tuesday night by announcing his retirement.
The unexpected bombshell was dropped during an otherwise uneventful meeting broadcast via Zoom.
“I am well into my 70s and profoundly grateful for the many years that I have had the privilege and honor of being able to be of service to this city which I deeply love,” he said, completely blindsiding other council members.
“I have decided to retire, effective two weeks from Friday. I am retiring as of June 11. I thank you. Goodnight and goodbye.”
And with that, as jaws dropped to the floor, he disconnected his camera and left the meeting.
“Shocked! I had no idea,” freshman council member Phil Brock tells The Sun.
“He served many years with distinction, whether we always agreed or not. His legacy in Santa Monica as a champion of renters is secure. He now has the freedom to truly enjoy the city he loves.”
McKeown, 73, has served six consecutive four year terms in Santa Monica.
He has been an advocate for affordable housing, workers’ rights and environmental sustainability. During his first term as mayor, he was an invited presenter at the COP21 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
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A lifelong renter and graduate of Yale University, he moved to Santa Monica more than four decades ago to become general manager of KROQ-FM.
Per the City’s official website: “He also has been an award-winning advertising writer, done voice-overs, and owned a small radio recording studio on Main Street. For 25 years, Kevin McKeown served local children and teachers as Macintosh computer consultant for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.”
We reached out to Mr. McKeown for comment, but he did not respond.
It is unclear when a successor will be appointed.
Brock, in an email, noted: “The political landscape has already begun to evolve with changes initiated by the voice of our residents. The needs of the people who reside here are being heard loud and clear, symbolized by the election of Parra, de la Torre, and myself. We will continue to fight for all residents in the diverse community we love.”
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