Council District 5 - Kima Garten-Schmidt

Background

Kima Garten-Schmidt is a native of the Golden State, California. After receiving her Associates Degree, Kima attended California State University and studied Business Management. She was an office manager for the Department of Defense, Ballistics Missile Division at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California until her husband transferred to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Kima moved to Summerville in 1997 when her husband Ed transferred to Joint Base Charleston.

Kima has always been involved in children’s ministry as a leader at the churches she has attended. While living in California she served as a Children’s Ministry teacher in Redlands, California and as an American Red Cross Youth Director at Norton Air Force Base. In Germany she was the President of the Christian Women’s Club, Vice President of the Officer’s Spouses Club, Ramstein, Germany and Co-Founder and Board member of the Pregnancy Counseling Center in Einsiedlerhof, Germany.

In Summerville, Kima has served as Parent Teacher Association Reflections Chair for various schools, district and state. She also served on the Oaks Christian School Board of Directors. Kima was the local coordinator for the High School International Exchange Program and hosted 17 international high school students throughout 12 years.

Kima is a member of the worship team at Crossroads Community Church.

Kima is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Dorchester, a program organized by the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce. 

Together Kima and Ed have three adult sons who live throughout the Lowcountry.

Committee Involvement

• Parks and Recreation
• Public Works, Chairperson
• Beyond BASIC