Dems Want Kathleen's Tea Room Owner to Fill Bennett's Seat

Democrats are nominating a local business owner for the Peekskill Common Council seat left vacant by Don Bennett, who announced his resignation last month.

District leaders of the Peekskill Democratic City Committee made the unanimous decision earlier this week to nominate Vivian Cyndi McKenzie. She is a Business Improvement District executive board member and the proprietor of Kathleen's Tea Room.

A mother of three and a Peekskill-native, McKenzie "loves her community and believes it is important to be active within it," a press release from the committee states.

“It’s an exciting time in Peekskill right now," Chairwoman Marina Ciotti said in a statement. “Our district leaders enthusiastically came out to nominate a candidate to add to our already exceptional ticket. Vivian’s business experience and hometown roots will add an important voice to the team. We’re thrilled to have her join the campaign and we are focused on our goal of winning in November.”

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Here's some addition information about the candidate, as provided in the committee's press release:

Ms. McKenzie was born in Peekskill to the late Walter and Lula Bridgewater. She attended Peekskill City Schools and graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton with a B.S. in Management. She worked in the insurance industry for 27 years as a Claims Adjuster, Fraud Adjuster, Special Investigator and Territory Sales Manager for corporations including Hanover Insurance, GMAC and Allstate.

While maintaining her position in the insurance field she turned her love of cooking into a business. She was one of the founding partners of Bridge E’s Place, a soul food take out restaurant she owned with her sisters. After closing the restaurant she continued in the food service industry with her Soul Food Mobile Food Truck. In 2010 she purchased the popular Kathleen’s Tea Room, an English-style tea room on Main St. in Peekskill. In 2012 she left the insurance industry to run her business full time.

...She serves on the board of the Business Improvement District (BID), was a Girl Scout troop leader for more than eight years and participates in the P.I.E.S Program at Peekskill High School. She is a member of Park Street A.M.E. Zion Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Vivian is married to Eric McKenzie and is the proud mother of Marqui, Charisha and Erika and the Nana of Jada.