| Kim's roots are strong in Tangipahoa Parish. The Landry family tree goes back multiple generations in Ponchatoula, while her husband Steve's family was one of the settling families in Pumpkin Center. Growing up, Kim attended St. Joseph School from kindergarten to 8th grade. After graduating from Ponchatoula High, she attended Southeastern Louisiana University to obtain her BA in General Studies with concentrations in Industrial Technology, Business and Computer Science.
Working over 20 years in the banking and mortgage industry, Kim has strong sales and accounting skills. Over the years, she spent time volunteering as a youth sports coach and a booster member at Ponchatoula High School. At PARD, Kim started the youth volleyball program to give the youth in the community another opportunity to play and learn team building skills.
During her term as Tangipahoa Parish Councilwoman, Kim worked on many drainage issues and ordinances. After the 2016 floods and other weather events, the south end of the parish clearly had flooding issues. Working together, Kim and the Tangipahoa Parish Council developed regulations to minimize fill and increase green space.
For the last five years, Kim has taken the lead to protect the wetlands South of Ponchatoula. As seen during and after Hurricane Ida, the south swamp and wetlands are a critical buffer zone, protecting homes and people. She was asked to be an alternate committee member for the Louisiana Watershed Steering Committee for Region 7, where she participates in meetings with other parishes regarding flooding.
Before Kim was elected to the council, she helped organize litter sweeps. In 2018, Tangipahoa Parish Government presented Kim a Proclamation for playing an active role in protecting, preserving and keeping the natural surroundings clean. She then worked on a grant application with Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and Osprey Initiative for a litter trap. In 2020, Kim was part of Louisiana's first three Litter Gitters. With the cleanups and the traps, Tangipahoa was recognized by Louisiana Environmental Quality as one of the state's 2022 Environmental Leadership Program award winners.
In 2021, as Chairman of the Parish Council's Development Regulations Committee, Kim was instrumental in developing a Renewable Energy Power Plant ordinance for Solar development. Recognizing these concerns, Senator Beth Mizell passed a Senate Resolution to direct the Department of Natural Resources to host a meeting for stakeholders from the state to discuss ideas and concerns to work on guidelines for the state. After Kim testified at the meeting about her work in Tangipahoa, she asked to join the Louisiana Model Solar Ordinance Committee. |