Former Irvine Councilwoman Tammy Kim’s campaign to return to that body via an upcoming District 5 special election is taking on water and sinking fast.
Just days ago, a lawsuit was filed contending Kim does not live in District 5, citing evidence from public records and a private investigator’s report. The lawsuit was preceded by a formal complaint to the city council. Both seek Kim’s removal from the ballot.
The city council met in a special closed session on Tuesday to discuss the complaint and lawsuit. A number of residents addressed the matter during public comments, and all of them emphatically called for Kim to be kicked off the ballot.
READ: Irvine: Is Tammy Kim Faking Her Residency In Special Election for Vacant Council Seat?
That same day, Councilman William Go removed her from the city’s Finance Commission, only two months after he appointed her, according to TheLiberalOC.com and other sources.
This is a serious blow to her candidacy, since Kim’s ballot title of “City of Irvine Commissioner/Educator” is no longer true.
Kim also canceled her upcoming “birthday” campaign fundraiser.
To top it off, TheLiberalOC.com reports that Kim was served yesterday with a subpoena for the lawsuit. Compounding her difficulties, the process server found her at the District 3 condo that she owns but says she doesn’t live at. According to sources, Kim has been caught on video spending the weekend at her District 3 condo where she says she doesn’t live.
For years, Kim has lived in her condo on 136 Cartier Aisle in District 3. In May of last year, she re-registered to vote at 19 Alaris Aisle in District 5, and voted from that address in the November election. She used that address when she pulled nomination papers in December to run in the District 5 special election.
In January, a private investigator spoke to the family that actually lives at 19 Alaris Aisle. They said they had lived there for 8 years, that they are the only people who have lived there and that they have never had a tenant.
Kim got wind of this encounter, and within days had rented a room in an apartment 44 Willowrun in Distict 5, changed her voter registration to that address and pulled new nomination papers using that address.
All while she continued to live at her District 3 condo.
The wheels continue to come off her campaign as a lawsuit seeks to eject her from the ballot, she gets fired from her newly-minted Finance Commission appointment, and cancels a planned fundraiser.
Kim has been endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County and the Orange County Labor Federation. No word yet on whether those organizations are re-considering their endorsements.
