Bernard Kenny
Encyclopedia
Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. is an American
Democratic Party
politician
, who served in the New Jersey
State Senate
from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District. He served for one day at the end of his tenure in the Senate as President of the Senate.
Before moving up to the Senate, Kenny served in the lower house
of the New Jersey Legislature
, the General Assembly
, from 1987 to 1993. Upon the resignation of Bob Menendez from the New Jersey Senate, due to his election to the United States House of Representatives
, Kenny was selected to fill the vacancy.
A Navy
veteran, Senator Kenny is a partner at the law firm of Florio & Kenny. When the Senate
was tied 20-20 in 2002 to 2003, Kenny served as the Democratic Majority Leader
, and when the Democrats
regained majority control, he took over as full Majority Leader, a position he held for the remainder of his Senate term, except for his last day in office when he became President of the Senate.
Senator Kenny was the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriation Committee in 2008, and also served on the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, the
Intergovernmental Relations Commission and the Legislative Services Commission.
Kenny was Hoboken's
Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1984 to 1985 and was an Assistant Prosecutor in Hudson County
from 1976 to 1979. Kenny served in the United States Navy
from 1968 to 1971 as a Lieutenant, junior grade
.
In the Senate, two laws Kenny has sponsored, the Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the County and Municipal Water Supply Act, make it possible for municipalities to enter into public/private water utility agreements. He sponsored the legislation which conforms the State's trademark law and application procedures with federal law. He also sponsored a law providing for interstate banking and a law giving gross income exclusions for certain savings in Roth IRAs.
Kenny was one of New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's Electoral College
votes after the 2004 presidential election
. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton
, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party
candidate John Kerry
.
The senator was a member of the New Jersey Sports History Commission and served on the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Kenny was counsel to the state division of the American Cancer Society
. He served, at the appointment of the New Jersey Supreme Court
, on the District VI Ethics Committee which reviewed complaints against lawyers, from 1985 to 1988.
Kenny received a B.A.
from the University of Pennsylvania
(1968) in Economics and was awarded a J.D.
(1976) from the Fordham University
School of Law.
resigned his position on January 7, 2008, for the last day of Kenny's term, which ended January 8, 2008, and allowed Kenny to be elected President of the New Jersey Senate for one day. As Senate President, Kenny presided over Senate sessions, set the Senate agenda, and performed ceremonial functions on behalf of the Senate. If Gov. Jon Corzine
had left the state or been incapacitated during Kenny's Senate Presidency, Kenny would have served as acting governor.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 33rd Legislative District are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
State Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 33rd Legislative District. He served for one day at the end of his tenure in the Senate as President of the Senate.
Before moving up to the Senate, Kenny served in the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, the General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, from 1987 to 1993. Upon the resignation of Bob Menendez from the New Jersey Senate, due to his election to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Kenny was selected to fill the vacancy.
A Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
veteran, Senator Kenny is a partner at the law firm of Florio & Kenny. When the Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
was tied 20-20 in 2002 to 2003, Kenny served as the Democratic Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
, and when the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
regained majority control, he took over as full Majority Leader, a position he held for the remainder of his Senate term, except for his last day in office when he became President of the Senate.
Senator Kenny was the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriation Committee in 2008, and also served on the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, the
Intergovernmental Relations Commission and the Legislative Services Commission.
Kenny was Hoboken's
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1984 to 1985 and was an Assistant Prosecutor in Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
from 1976 to 1979. Kenny served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1968 to 1971 as a Lieutenant, junior grade
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
.
In the Senate, two laws Kenny has sponsored, the Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the County and Municipal Water Supply Act, make it possible for municipalities to enter into public/private water utility agreements. He sponsored the legislation which conforms the State's trademark law and application procedures with federal law. He also sponsored a law providing for interstate banking and a law giving gross income exclusions for certain savings in Roth IRAs.
Kenny was one of New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's Electoral College
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
votes after the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
. New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004 in the State House Annex, in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, where all 15 votes were cast for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
.
The senator was a member of the New Jersey Sports History Commission and served on the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Kenny was counsel to the state division of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. He served, at the appointment of the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
, on the District VI Ethics Committee which reviewed complaints against lawyers, from 1985 to 1988.
Kenny received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(1968) in Economics and was awarded a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(1976) from the Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
School of Law.
Senate Presidency
To honor Kenny, Senate President Richard CodeyRichard Codey
Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...
resigned his position on January 7, 2008, for the last day of Kenny's term, which ended January 8, 2008, and allowed Kenny to be elected President of the New Jersey Senate for one day. As Senate President, Kenny presided over Senate sessions, set the Senate agenda, and performed ceremonial functions on behalf of the Senate. If Gov. Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
had left the state or been incapacitated during Kenny's Senate Presidency, Kenny would have served as acting governor.
District 33
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. The other representatives from the 33rd Legislative District are:
- Assemblyman Brian P. Stack
- Assemblyman Silverio VegaSilverio VegaSilverio "Sal" A. Vega is a Cuban American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006–2008, where he represented the 33rd legislative district and served on the Law and Public Safety Committee. He also served as the Mayor of West New York. Vega lost a...
External links
- Senator Kenny's Legislative Website
- New Jersey Senate Democrats Website Biography
- New Jersey Voter Information Website 2003
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2006 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2005 (PDF)
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure form for 2004 (PDF)