Edward J. Kennedy

Edward J. Kennedy, Jr. (born March 24, 1951) is an American politician, and member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Middlesex district. Which includes the towns of Lowell, Groton, Dunstable, Pepperell, Townsend, Ashby, and a precinct in Ayer and Devens. He has previously served as the 90th Mayor of Lowell (2016–2018), non-consecutively as a member of the Lowell City Council from 1978–1985 to 2012–2019, and also served as a Middlesex County Commissioner (1992–1996).[2]

Ed Kennedy
Kennedy in 2019
Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
Assumed office
February 14, 2019
Preceded byAdam Hinds
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 1st Middlesex district
Assumed office
January 2, 2019
Preceded byEileen Donoghue
90th Mayor of Lowell
In office
January 6, 2016 – January 2, 2018
Preceded byRodney M. Elliott
Succeeded byWilliam Samaras
Member of the Lowell City Council
In office
January 4, 2012 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byMulti-member council
Succeeded byMulti-member council
In office
January 4, 1978 – December 31, 1985
Preceded byMulti-member council
Succeeded byMulti-member council
Middlesex County Commissioner
In office
January 8, 1992 – January 3, 1996
Preceded byMulti-member commission
Succeeded byCommission abolished
Personal details
Born
Edward J. Kennedy, Jr.

(1951-03-24) March 24, 1951
Lowell, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Susan Kennedy
ResidenceLowell, Massachusetts
EducationBoston University (BA)
Framingham State University (MPA)
OccupationState Senator
Salary$66,257[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

Kennedy served on the city council for Lowell, Massachusetts from 1978 through 1985, and on the county commission for Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1992 through 1996.[3] After his time on the Lowell City Council and Middlesex Commission, he decided to run for Middlesex County Sheriff in 1996. Kennedy lost the Democratic nomination to Sheriff James DiPaola. He tried another run in 1998, but lost the nomination to DiPaola, once more.[4] He was again elected to the Lowell City Council in 2011, after a 27 year hiatus from it, and a 13 year hiatus from politics. Then he was re-elected again in 2014, 2016, and 2018. But, during his third-straight term in 2016, he was elected to be Lowell's 90th Mayor after the City Council's 9–0 vote.[5] After his stint as Mayor, and with 20 years of government experience in his back pocket, Kennedy decided to run for higher office. After a close fought Democratic Primary. Then a swift general election night win, he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Kennedy was sworn in on January 2, 2019.[6]

Education and personal life

Kennedy holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Framingham State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University.[7]

Prior to being elected to the Senate, he worked as a commercial real estate appraiser. He is a long-time member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, the Sierra Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club.[7]

In his free time, Kennedy hikes, spends time with his three grandsons, and enjoys the variety of dining and cultural options available throughout Greater Lowell.[7]

Legislative career

Earlier career

"Kennedy began his political career when he won a seat on the Lowell City Council in 1977, at the age of 26. At that time the city was at a crossroads. The once-bustling home of the Industrial Revolution had fallen on desperate economic times, the landscape dotted by hulking vacant mill buildings and an increase in blight, arson, and drug crimes in the neighborhoods."[7]

"He served four terms on the Council from 1978 to 1985, fighting to keep property taxes reasonable and to improve city services for those who stayed in the city, while helping to steer the city into its economic and cultural renaissance. Those years saw the establishment of the Lowell National Historical Park, the construction of the Hilton Hotel and the Wang Training Center downtown, the renovation of the Wannalancit Mills and other former industrial spaces, an influx of federal funds to improve the city's housing stock and prevent neighborhood blight, and the arrival of thousands of Cambodian refugees, all important pieces of changing the face and future of the city."[7]

"From 1992 to 1996, Kennedy served in a regional capacity as a Middlesex County Commissioner."[7]

"He returned to the Lowell City Council in 2012, where he was a strong proponent of the city conducting tax lien auctions to recoup back taxes owed to the city. In August 2012, the city took in $1.3 million in what had been lost revenue from the sale of tax liens and taxes paid by property owners who did not want their liens to go to auction."[7]

"Kennedy has continued to be a leading voice for economic development initiatives and environmental policy on the City Council. He served as mayor in the 2016–2018 term, during which time he was an outspoken and unwavering leader in the fight to keep Lowell High School downtown. His level-headed leadership guided the city through one of the most contentious battles in the city's history."[7]

"He has served as the representative to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), chairs the City Council's Economic Development and Education Partnerships subcommittees and is a member of the City Council's Arts & Culture, Downtown Redevelopment, Environment & Flood Issues, Municipal Facilities, Zoning, and Ad-Hoc Election Laws subcommittees."[7]

Current committee membership

Kennedy currently serves on seven legislative committees in the Massachusetts Legislature:

Electoral history
1996 Democratic Primary for Middlesex County Sheriff[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James DiPaola 32,577 46.6%
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 21,091 30.2%
Democratic Edward J. Rideout 10,500 15.1%
Democratic Leonard H. Golder 5,613 8.1%
Total votes 69,781 100.00
1998 Democratic Primary for Middlesex County Sheriff[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James DiPaola 101,924 65.8%
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 52,772 34.2%
Total votes 154,701 100.00
2012 Lowell City Council Election (9 Winners Eligible)[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 3,586 6.2%
2014 Lowell City Council Election (9 Winners Eligible)[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 5,091 7.1%
2016 Lowell City Council Election (9 Winners Eligible)[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 4,812 7.5%
2018 Lowell City Council Election (9 Winners Eligible)[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 6,483 7.1%
2019 Democratic Primary for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 4,669 26.6%
Democratic John Drinkwater 4,212 23.9%
Democratic Rodney Elliot 3,557 20.2%
Democratic Terry Ryan 2,841 16.1%
Democratic William Martin Jr. 2,312 13.1%
Total votes 17,591 100.00
2019 Republican Primary for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John MacDonald 4,778 100%
Total votes 4,778 100.00
2019 General Election for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 35,068 63.9%
Republican John MacDonald 19,825 36.1%
Total votes 44,893 100.00

See also

References
  1. "Statewide Payroll". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/EDJ0/District
  3. Moran, Lyle (June 30, 2011). "He last served in 1985; Edward Kennedy seeks return to Lowell City Council". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  4. "Kennedy's 1996/98 Sheriff Runs". Our Campaigns. January 5, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  5. Welker, Grant (January 6, 2016). "A 'more seasoned, wiser' Lowell Mayor Kennedy looks ahead". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. Sobey, Rick (November 7, 2018). "Kennedy beats MacDonald to succeed Donoghue in Senate". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  7. "Bio". Massachusetts State Sen. Edward J. Kennedy. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. "Kennedy's City Council Campaigns". Our Campaigns. January 5, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  9. 2019 Democratic Primary Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
  10. 2019 Republican Primary Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
  11. 2019 General Election Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
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