Kelda Roys

Rep.
Kelda Helen Roys
Esq.
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 81st district
In office
2009–2013
Preceded by David Travis
Succeeded by Fred Clark
Personal details
Born (1979-06-24) June 24, 1979
Marshfield, Wisconsin
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Dan Reed
Residence Madison, Wisconsin
Alma mater New York University and University of Wisconsin Law School
Occupation entrepreneur, attorney
Website CEO & Founder Kelda Helen Roys

Kelda Roys (born June 24, 1979) is a tech entrepreneur, business owner, attorney, and a former Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. She represented the 81st Assembly District from her election in 2008 until 2013, and during the 2011-2013 session, served as Minority Caucus Chair.[1] In September 2011, ran for Congress in Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district,[2] a race she lost in August 2012. She left the Assembly when her second term ended in 2013.

Early life and education

Roys attended New York University where she designed her own major in politics, drama, and cultural studies, and received a B.A. magna cum laude in 2000.[3][4] In 2004, she received a J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School, focusing on civil rights and international law, and was a participant in the Wisconsin Innocence Project.

Career

Law

During and after college, Roys worked full-time as a real estate agent at The Marketing Directors, Inc. During law school, she worked at several international law firms, including Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and a firm in Istanbul, Turkey. After law school, she served for four years as the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin.

Politics

Wisconsin State Assembly

In 2008, Roys won election to the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 81st Assembly district, filling the seat left vacant by the retirement of Dave Travis, who had held the seat since 1983. She won a six-way Democratic primary with 30% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election.[5]

After being reelected in 2010, Roys was chosen by her peers to serve as the Democratic Caucus Chair in the Assembly. Roys served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform, and later served as ranking member on the Committee on Elections and Campaign Finance Reform and the Committee on Consumer Protection & Personal Privacy.

2012 Congressional election

In 2012, when Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl, Roys left her Assembly seat to run for office in the open 2nd Congressional district. She lost to Mark Pocan in a four-candidate Democratic primary.[6]

Business

In 2013, Roys founded a venture-backed real estate tech company, OpenHomes,[7] a virtual real estate agency that helps homeowners sell their homes.

Roys has served on the boards of TEMPO Madison, Wisconsin Citizen Action, Wisconsin Women's Council, ACLU of Wisconsin, Madison Repertory Theater, Dane County Democratic Party, Sherman Neighborhood Association, Wisconsin Public Interest Law Foundation, the ACLU of Wisconsin, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and the State Bar of Wisconsin's Legal Services Committee.

References

  1. ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, 2011-2012 Assembly Officers Accessed February 7, 2012.
  2. ↑ Jessica Vanegeren, "Bold move: Kelda Helen Roys risks Assembly seat for shot at Congress", The Capital Times, September 28, 2011. Accessed December 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ D.C. Everest Area School District, Kelda Helen Roys audio interview Accessed January 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ Wheeler, Van Sickle and Anderson, Law firm biography Accessed January 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ Jason Joyce, "Kelda Helen Roys wins 81st Assembly District, will replace 30-year incumbent Dave Travis", The Isthmus, September 9, 2009. Accessed January 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=725620
  7. ↑ Marc Eisen, "Former Rep. Kelda Helen Roys launches online startup OpenHomes", August 8, 2013. Accessed December 19, 2013.
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