Former Assemblyman Keith Richman dies at 56

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Keith Richman, who fought for pension reform during three terms in the California Assembly and was a leader in the Valley secession movement, has died. He was 56.

Richman died Friday night at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a battle with cancer, said his brother, Craig.

Richman was elected to the state Assembly in 2000 from the 38th District in the Santa Clarita Valley.

He served until 2006. A physician, Richman advocated for healthcare reform and he tried unsuccessfully to qualify a pension-reform initiative for the state ballot.

In a statement Saturday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised Richman as a ‘passionate public servant.’

An obit will follow at latimes.com/obituaries

--Staff and wire reports