King Vying for Second Consecutive Term as Council President

Louisville Metro Council President Jim King, D-10, is lining up to serve a second consecutive term as leader of the city legislature.The 17-member Democratic caucus endorsed King last month and will likely remain united in selecting a president. No council Republican has shown interest in the position and no GOP member has been president since 2007. Last year, some council members were concerned that King would clash with Mayor Greg Fischer because the two ran negative ads against each other during the campaign for mayor. But Democratic Caucus spokesman Tony Hyatt says King and the mayor stay in constant contact."The concern at the very beginning as the Fischer administration was getting its feet wet and getting used to the administration of government and the president, I mean that working relationship I believe has gone on very well," he says.The council elects a president to a one-year term at the first meeting in January and the position holds several roles and responsibilities. The council president oversees committee members, assigns legislation to committees and appoints lawmakers to various boards and commissions.Typically, the council president serves a one-year term and steps aside. Hyatt says city lawmakers are aware 2011 was unusual and that King has presided over a turbulent year that has included the ouster of Councilwoman Judy Green, redistricting and “significant budget issues” with a new mayor."The president has show he represents all 26 members of the Metro Council. So I think he’s been very even handed in both redistricting and in the situation with Councilwoman Green in handling that. And that of course was the very first time the council has had to deal with removing a member from office," he says.