Edward J. Kennedy

Ed Kennedy
Kennedy in 2019
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 1st Middlesex district
Incumbent
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
Personal details
Born
Edward J. Kennedy Jr.

(1951-03-24) March 24, 1951 (age 73)
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSusan Kennedy
ResidenceLowell, Massachusetts
EducationBoston University (BA)
Framingham State University (MPA)
OccupationState Senator
WebsiteOfficial website

Edward J. Kennedy Jr. (born March 24, 1951) is an American politician, and member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 1st Middlesex district. He has previously served as the 90th Mayor of Lowell (2016–2018).

Education and early life

Kennedy holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Framingham State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University.[1]

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.[1]

Political career

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Current committee membership

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

  • Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development (Chair)
  • Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses (Vice Chair)
  • Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
  • Joint Committee on Election Laws
  • Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
  • Joint Committee on Higher Education
  • Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Personal life

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. He is married to Susan Kennedy.[1]

Electoral history

1996 Democratic Primary for Middlesex County Sheriff[3]
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[3]
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
2016 Lowell, Massachusetts Mayoral Election [6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 9 100%
Total votes 9 100.00
2018 Democratic Primary for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[7]
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
2018 General Election for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[8]
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
Democratic hold
2020 Democratic Primary for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 21,890 99.2%
Write-in 177 0.8%
Total votes 22,067 100.00%
2020 General Election for the Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward J. Kennedy Jr. 56,791 98.8%
Write-in 706 1.2%
Total votes 57,497 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bio". Massachusetts State Sen. Edward J. Kennedy. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Moran, Lyle (June 30, 2011). "He last served in 1985; Edward Kennedy seeks return to Lowell City Council". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Kennedy's 1996/98 Sheriff Runs". Our Campaigns. January 5, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  4. ^ Welker, Grant (January 6, 2016). "A 'more seasoned, wiser' Lowell Mayor Kennedy looks ahead". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Sobey, Rick (November 7, 2018). "Kennedy beats MacDonald to succeed Donoghue in Senate". Lowell Sun. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. ^ 2016 Lowell, Massachusetts Mayoral Election|https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
  7. ^ 2018 Democratic Primary Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
  8. ^ 2018 General Election Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
  9. ^ a b 2020 General Election Results for Massachusetts State Senate 1st Middlesex District | https://ballotpedia.org/Edward_Kennedy
Massachusetts Senate
Preceded by Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 1st Middlesex district
2019–present 		Incumbent
Government offices
Preceded by 90th Mayor of Lowell
2016–2018 		Succeeded by