COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL REPOSTED WITH PERMISSION FROM INFACT DAILY
InFact Daily
October 8, 2007
Shade to challenge Kim in May Council election
Austin entrepreneur Randi Shade said Sunday that she would challenge Council Member Jennifer Kim in next May’s election. Shade, 41, has lived in Austin for the past 18 years.
After serving as 1987-88 University of Texas student body president, Shade attended Harvard Business School, where she earned an MBA. She has also served as Executive Director of the Austin Entrepreneurs Foundation and as CEO of charitygift.com.
Asked why she had decided to run against one-term incumbent Kim, Shade said, “The more that I started talking with people the more I realized there was an opportunity for me in that seat . . . the more I was getting feedback that people felt we could do better. Really, they're all open seats.” Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley is stepping down in May and several candidates have already indicated they would run for her seat. Shade is the first to indicate a definite decision to run against Kim. Council Member Lee Leffingwell is also planning to run for re-election.
Kim, 35, said she is looking forward to the campaign, “letting people know what I've accomplished,” as well as her “new initiatives for children, affordable housing and small business.”
Although Kim is known to be an avid campaigner and fundraiser, Shade, who has ties to both business and community service groups, could be a tough opponent. Both are staunch Democrats.
Shade said she was interested in numerous issues, “including traffic and the environment, and keeping Austin a place where families can afford to live.” She added, “I really want to make sure we’re careful we don't let Austin turn into Any Town USA.”
Shade and her partner, Kayla, an attorney and Dell executive, are the parents of a 16-month old son and live in Clarksville. Her campaign team includes Democratic activist Joe Pinnelli, who will serve as her campaign treasurer and political consultant Mark Nathan. Nathan has been instrumental in six successful Council elections since 2003.