Timothy M. Kennedy (politician)

Timothy M. "Tim" Kennedy (born October 20, 1976) is an American politician from New York. He is currently a Democratic member of the New York State Senate, representing the 63rd District since January 2013. He previously represented the 58th District from 2011 to 2013, which included parts of Erie County, including part of Buffalo and all of Lackawanna and Cheektowaga.

Biography

Kennedy was raised in South Buffalo, one of five children of Martin and Mary Kennedy.^[1] His father works as Buffalo's commissioner of assessment and taxation.^[2] He received his early education at St. Martin's Elementary School, and attended high school at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. He interned for then-State Assemblyman and current U.S. Representative Brian Higgins.^[2] He earned both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in occupational therapy from D'Youville College.^[3] He then worked with geriatric and pediatric patients for eleven years.

In December 2004, Kennedy was appointed to the Erie County Legislature, representing the 2nd District, after Mark J. F. Schroeder was elected to the State Assembly.^[4] He was re-elected in 2005 and 2007. He was one of three Democratic members to form a coalition legislature with the six Republican members.^[2][5] During his tenure, he served as chairman of the legislature's Economic Development Committee and vice-chairman of the Public Safety Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors at the Erie County Industrial Development Agency.^[1]

State Senate

In 2010, Kennedy challenged incumbent William Stachowski for the Democratic nomination for the 58th District in the New York State Senate.^[6] He received endorsements from the Independence Party and from the Conservative Party,^[7] which had previously supported Stachowski.^[5]

Kennedy ran as a pro-life candidate who supported same-sex equality,^[8] and received an endorsement from Fight Back New York ^[6] and the pro-gay Human Rights Campaign, which was eager to oust Stachowski following his "no" vote regarding same-sex marriage.^[9]

Kennedy ultimately defeated Stachowski by a margin of 63%-26%.^[10] Kennedy defeated Republican Assemblyman Jack Quinn III in the 2010 general election by a margin of 47%-to-45%.^[11] The remaining votes went to Stachowski, who had remained on the ballot on the Independence Party and Working Families Party lines.^[12]

In June 2011, Kennedy voted "yes" on historic same-sex marriage legislation that passed the New York State Senate.^[13] The bill was later signed into law by Gov. Cuomo.

In 2012, Kennedy survived a primary challenge from Democrat Betty Jean Grant, prevailing by 139 votes out of more than 21,000 votes cast.^[14] Kennedy was re-elected in the November 2012 general election, when he ran uncontested.^[15]

During a June 2013 interview, Kennedy stated that he was undecided in regard to Governor Andrew Cuomo's Women's Equality Act (WEA), and made the following comments: "I am pro-life, but I am not an extremist. And I believe that when it comes to the life and health of a mother, there are circumstances, unfortunately, (in which) individuals have to make very difficult decisions that have an impact on their lives... And so that brings me toward the middle on the issue; I suppose it does."^[16] On June 21, 2013, Kennedy voted in favor of a WEA amendment that would have allowed late-term abortions based upon women's health. The amendment failed to pass.^[17]

Personal life

Kennedy lives in South Buffalo with his wife, Katie, and his three children.^[1]

References