Feeling Kinda Kim

Over at Burnt Orange Report, they reprint Robin Rather's endorsement of Jennifer Kim (with an approving nod from BOR's resident Kim supporter Matt Glazer). A relatively informed discussion follows, with Place 4 candidate Robin Cravey getting in the mix.

Also, following their endorsement of Randi Shade yesterday, the public safety pile-on continues. Austin Firefighters Association prez Stephen Truesdell issued a press release countering Kim's Statesman statement over losing the fire fighters' endorsement. "Jennifer Kim has said that her refusal to support funding for the Firefighters pension cost her our endorsement for re-election," writes Truesdell. "This is an untrue and unfortunate statement. Our endorsement of Randi Shade was based on Kim's poor overall performance on public safety issues over the last 2 1/2 years, and our belief that Shade can and will do a better job." Ouch!

The full release is below the fold.

Statement From Stephen Truesdell, President of the Austin Firefighters Association, Regarding Jennifer Kim:

"In response to our PAC's endorsement of Place 3 challenger Randi Shade, Council Member Jennifer Kim has said that her refusal to support funding for the Firefighters pension cost her our endorsement for re-election.

This is an untrue and unfortunate statement. Our endorsement of Randi Shade was based on Kim's poor overall performance on public safety issues over the last 2 1/2 years, and our belief that Shade can and will do a better job.

We take no delight in withdrawing our past support of Kim. We backed her enthusiastically in 2005 because we believed then that she could be an effective leader on public safety issues, and for the community at large.

We were mistaken. As constituents, we've found Jennifer Kim to be not only unwilling to take the time to fully understand the challenges we face, but also unable to work with the rest of the City Council to get anything done.

With regard to the pension fund, our PAC board never once asked any candidate we interviewed about it, including Jennifer Kim. Addressing the pension's unfunded liability is a concern, but only one of many.

To be crystal clear, Jennifer Kim did not lose our support because of her unwillingness or inability to help firefighters with any one issue, she lost our support because of an overall failure of leadership over 2 1/2 years.

The Austin Firefighters Association PAC is proud to stand together with the Austin Police Association PAC and the Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association PAC to endorse Randi Shade for Austin City Council Place 3."