Patty Kim (politician)

Patty H. Kim (born July 29, 1973) is an American politician. A Democrat, Kim has been a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 103rd district, since 2013. She previously served on the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania City Council.[2]

Patty Kim
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 103rd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2013[1]
Preceded byRon Buxton
ConstituencyDauphin County, Pennsylvania
Personal details
Born (1973-07-29) July 29, 1973[2]
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)John Sider
ResidenceHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Alma materBoston College
ProfessionLegislator
WebsiteRep. Patty Kim

Early life and education

Kim was born on July 29, 1973.[2] Kim graduated from Langley High School in 1991 and Boston College in 1995.[2] Kim's father immigrated from Korea after the Korean War.[3][4]

Career before politics

Prior to her career in elected office, Kim was a television reporter[3] as well as a television production assistant; associate producer, and news anchor.[2]

Political career

Harrisburg City Council

Kim served on the Harrisburg City Council from 2006 to 2012, serving two terms.[2] She served as vice president of the council.[5]

Tenure in the state House

Over several sessions in the state House, Kim was a leader in efforts to increase in Pennsylvania's state minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour.[6][7] Kim also sponsored legislation that would expunge the criminal records of persons convicted of non-violent crimes who do not commit another crime for at least seven years.[8]

Kim, who is Korean American, is the first Asian-American to serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[3]

In 2015, Kim recruited six other House Democrats from inner-city districts across the state to go to block parties to reach out to voters to increase awareness for more education spending in state budget.[9]

In 2019, Kim supported calls by Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse for a state-appointed receiver to assume control of the long-troubled Harrisburg School District, which has been plagued by financial mismanagement, poor academic performance, and high employee turnover.[10][11]

In 2019, Kim was the sole Democrat in the state House to support a pension reform proposal that would switch a traditional pension plan for state workers to a 401(k)-style plan.[12]

Elections to the state House

In 2011, Kim announced that she would run for state House District 103 the next year, challenging incumbent Ron Buxton, a fellow Democrat, in the primary election.[5] Buxton ultimately decided to not run for reelection.[13] In the 2012 primary, Kim defeating Roy Christ, Karl Lewis Singleton, and Gloria E. Martin-Roberts, receiving 28.81% of the vote; Christ received 28.03%, Singleton 24.4%, and Martin-Roberts 18.76%.[14] She ran unopposed in the general election.[15]

In the 2014 election, Kim defeated Gina L. Roberson in the Democratic primary, receiving 78.42% of the vote to Roberson's 21.58%.[16] Kim ran unopposed in the 2014 general election.[17]

In 2016, Kim defeated opponent Richard Soto in the Democratic primary,[8] receiving 89.41% of the vote to Soto's 10.58%.[18] She ran unopposed in the 2016 general election.[19]

In the 2018 election, Kim ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[20] In the November 2018 general election, Kim defeated Republican nominee Anthony Thomas Harrell, receiving 83.98% of the vote to Harrell's 16.02%.[21]

Personal life

Kim is married to John Sider; they have two children.[4]

Kim is a major supporter and sponsor of the Tri-Community Basketball Association.[22]

References
  1. "SESSION OF 2013 - 197TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 2013-01-01.
  2. https://www.house.state.pa.us/BMC/Bios/PDF/2445.PDF
  3. Murphy, Jan (1 January 2013). "Swearing-in Day at the state Capitol made history for Harrisburg and the state". The Patriot News. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  4. "Biography". Rep. Patty Kim. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  5. Robert J. Vickers, Harrisburg Councilwoman Patty Kim to challenge Rep. Ron Buxton, PennLive.com (November 12, 2011).
  6. Jan Murphy, Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pa. to move toward a $15 an hour minimum wage for all workers (January 30, 2019).
  7. Lasherica Thornton, A boost in the minimum wage in this year's Pa. budget?, Philadelphia Inquirer (June 1, 2018).
  8. "Patty Kim crushes challenger in Democratic primary race to represent Harrisburg". PennLive.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  9. "Pa. House Dems 'Whip' and 'Nae-Nae' for budget awareness". WPMT. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  10. Jan Murphy, State takeover of Harrisburg schools may not produce the results advocates seeks, PennLive.com (April 29, 2019).
  11. Harrisburg lawmakers back mayor’s request for state takeover of city schools, PennLive.com (April 24, 2019).
  12. Jan Murphy, Pa. lawmakers cling to pensions after pushing 401(k)-style plans, PennLive.com (May 6, 2019).
  13. Jan Murphy, Pennsylvania Rep. Ronald Buxton says he won't run again, PennLive.com (December 8, 2011).
  21. https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/OfficeResults?OfficeID=13&ElectionID=63&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0
  22. "State Rep. Patty Kim - Tri-Community Basketball Association". Tri-Community Basketball Association. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
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