UPDATE, 1:25 p.m. -- Goh's campaign issued a new statement regarding Carter's announcement this morning:
“Kyle expressed today how proud he is to have the public employee union endorsements. I wonder if that’s a good position in which to be? I prefer to be in my position. I can maintain fair and balanced representation for the taxpayers when Mr. Chavez and Mr. Galagaza come to negotiate union contracts. I have much support from rank and file police and firefighters who know me from our work together on the streets. That support includes former Police Chief Bill Rector, Sheriff Donny Youngblood, and former Fire Chief Ron Fraze.”
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UPDATE, 12:31 p.m. -- Goh's campaign tells 23ABC News that they are preparing a new statement and that the previous statement was sent prematurely.
23ABC will update this story once the new statement is received.
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Bakersfield mayoral candidate Kyle Carter held a press conference Tuesday regarding his public safety endorsements in the race for Bakersfield mayor.
"I am honored to have the support of the public safety professionals that put their lives on the line every day to protect our community," commented Carter.
According to a press release from Carter, he has the endorsements of the Bakersfield Police Officers Association, Bakersfield Professional Firefighters, Kern Law Enforcement Association, Kern County Firefighters Association and retired Sheriff Carl Sparks.
"He has a heart for this community and keeping Bakersfield safe. We all want to live in safe neighborhoods and I trust Kyle Carter to work with law enforcement and firefighters to make our city a safer place to live, work and play," said Sparks.
"Karen Goh is a very nice lady and I have a lot of respect for Karen Goh, I really do. The biggest difference between Karen Goh and I is I'm an established businessman. I'm a solid businessman. Karen Goh has run a charity, I mean her best days of business has been running a charity or selling books and you know, there's just, there's a difference there," said Carter when asked how he is different from Goh.
23ABC reached out to Goh for a statement in response to Carter's press conference, she sent the following statement:
"I saw today that Kyle had a big smile as he stated how proud he is to have the public employee union endorsements. I wonder if that's a good position to be in? I prefer to be in my position, so I can maintain fair and balanced representation for the taxpayers when Mr. Chavez and Mr. Galagaza come to negotiate union contracts. I have much support from rank and file police and firefighters who know me from our work together on the streets."
