Kim Rafferty
Kim Rafferty (born c. 1966) is the owner of Creative Rugs, a community activist, and councilwoman for Birmingham City Council District 2 since November 24, 2009.
Rafferty is a fifth-generation resident of Roebuck. She and her late husband Mark have two children who attend Leeds City Schools. She has degrees in human resources and history from the University of Kentucky and UAB. Besides her rug shop she is involved in numerous volunteer efforts, including Meals on Wheels, the Birmingham Hospitality Network, Interfaith Hospitality House, and Wonder Book Camp.
Rafferty has served as vice-president of the Roebuck Neighborhood Association and worked briefly as an assistant to Councilor Carol Reynolds. She founded Airport Neighbors United in 1999 and her involvement in the group may have led to her dismissal from Reynolds' staff.
She has been the chief polling inspector for the McElwain Baptist Church precinct and a delegate to the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform convention. She has served as an officer of the Parent-Teacher Association at her children's schools, chaired the 1st annual Earth Day Festival at East Lake Park for the Village Creek Human and Environmental Justice Society, helped organized the auction for the Alabama Environmental Council's Green Tie Affair, coached the Leeds Cap Ball Team, and directed programs for the We Care Circle of the United Methodist Women. For her service to the community, she was awarded a Sierra Club "Community Activist of the Year" recognition in 2002.
Rafferty ran in the 2009 Birmingham City Council election on a platform of improving quality of life through support for community schools, streamlining citizen involvement, and mitigating the effects of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on neighborhoods. She finished first in the general election, but the seven candidates in the district split the votes such that she was forced into a runoff against incumbent Carol Duncan. During the runoff she expressed the need for public investment and commercial development in the city's neighborhoods, including the demolition of dilapidated structures and the creation of new parks.
In late September flyers designed to look like $1 million bills with a dual portrait of Rafferty and Frank Mathews and slogans "Can't Get One Without the Other" and "We Are In the Money" appeared on the streets. Rafferty accused supporters of runoff opponent Duncan of smearing her. Duncan denied any involvement. Rafferty went on to win the runoff with almost 63% of the vote.
| Preceded by: Carol Duncan |
Birmingham City Council District 2 Representative 2009–present |
Succeeded by: current |
References
- "Birmingham City Council elections: District 2 candidate Kim Rafferty." (August 12, 2009) Birmingham News
- Ruisi, Anne (September 21, 2009) "Carol Duncan, Kim Rafferty square off for Birmingham District 2 city council seat." Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (September 25, 2009) "Birmingham City Council elections: Kim Rafferty says flier linking her to Frank Matthews is a trick." Birmingham News
External links
- Kim Rafferty campaign website