Runoff season means it’s time once again for candidate and race overviews.
Abbie Kamin
The runoff for Houston City Council District C features two first-time candidates vying to replace the term-limited Ellen Cohen.
Abbie Kamin, a 32-year-old civil rights lawyer, finished in first place in an Election Day field that included 13 candidates. Kamin said she was drawn to public service after seeing how all levels of government failed in their response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which struck New Orleans as she began her freshman year at Tulane University.
She said constituent service would be a top priority as a council member.
“One of the reasons I’m running for District C is city government really has the biggest impact on the day-to-day lives of people,” Kamin said. “We have a lot of challenges we’re facing, whether it’s flooding, traffic, our roads; but I think there’s tremendous opportunity in how we address those.”
Shelley Kennedy, 61, narrowly advanced to the runoff with a second-place finish. A health care consultant who also runs a small construction firm, Kennedy said she would be a moderate council member who would work to unite liberal and conservative residents.
Shelley Kennedy
“I’m running because I love Houston and I think I can make it a better place to live, work and play,” Kennedy said.
Through Oct. 28, Kamin had raised $313,392 and had $117,979 on hand. Kennedy had collected $97,655, of which $11,727 remained.
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One issue that draws a clear contrast between the pair is Prop B, the ballot referendum voters passed last year which requires firefighter pay to be brought in line with police of corresponding rank and seniority.
Kamin said she believes firefighters deserve higher pay, but that outcome should be achieved through negotiations between the city and fire union.
Kennedy supported the ballot initiative. Since a judge has since ruled Prop B unconstitutional, Kennedy said the labor dispute should be resolved by binding arbitration.
I highlighted that last bit because as the story notes the two candidates broadly agree on most things. You can hear them talk in more detail about a variety of topics in the interviews I did with them – here’s Kamin, here’s Kennedy – and draw your own conclusions. I don’t have a whole lot to add to this – I feel like most people should have at least some idea of who these candidates are, and from there which one they’d pick – but if you live in C and voted for someone else in round one, these are your chances to learn more and make your choice for the runoff.
Why is nobody criticizing these two for having no political experience. I thought that only career politicians were qualified to hold office. I would endorse Kamin because she, or someone from her campaign, came and took away her signs as soon as the election was over. All of the other candidates just left their signs there to litter the neighborhood and blow into the spokes of your bicycle when you are saving the planet on your way to work.