Loma Linda Native Joins Race for Congressional Seat

Loma Linda native and former Congressional oversight attorney Justin Kim has thrown his hat into the race for the 31^st Congressional District.

Kim joins a growing list of people vying to replace the retiring Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), who represented the area for more than 20 years.

Candidates include Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar), Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, State Sen. Bob Dutton (R- Rancho Cucamonga), Community Activist Renea Wickman and Redlands resident and businessman Rob Mardis.

Kim, running as Democrat, will host a meet the candidate event at 7 Saturday at Cross Walk Church, 10421 Corporate Drive in Redlands. Live music will be featured and light refreshments will be served.

His campaign released the following statement:

Focused on economic reform, Kim will strive to move Congress past ideological deadlock so it can focus on priorities important in this district that now includes San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and other surrounding communities. Of urgency for Kim is helping local homeowners whose mortgages have financially trapped them.

“I want to use my experience working in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government to help middle-­‐class families establish their financial footing and in turn strengthen the Inland Empire,” Kim said.

As an attorney, Kim spent the last two years working in Congress. He provided counsel to Senators during the impeachment trial and conviction of a federal judge accused of corruption.

He also advised Democratic Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who are investigating the housing and foreclosure crisis and leading efforts to address systemic abuses in the mortgage industry.

“We need to strengthen the public trust in our government,” said Kim. “That requires integrity from our leaders and the pursuit of justice without regard for influence.”

Kim also served as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice handling civil tax cases. From that experience, he believes that the complexity of the tax code leads to inequities and abuses of the system that place an undue burden on middle-­‐income Americans.

A graduate of Yale Law School, Kim worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Virginia A. Phillips, U.S. District Judge in Riverside. He and his wife, Mary, live in Loma Linda, where he grew up.