Timothy M. Kennedy (politician)
Encyclopedia
Timothy M. Kennedy is an American
politician from New York
. He is currently a Democratic
member of the New York State Senate
, representing the 58th District since 2010. His district includes parts of Erie County
, including part of Buffalo
and all of Lackawanna
and Cheektowaga
.
, one of five children of Martin and Mary Kennedy. His father works as Buffalo's commissioner of assessment and taxation. 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
. He earned both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in occupational therapy
from D'Youville College
. 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. 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. 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.
for the Democratic nomination for the 58th District in the New York State Senate
. He also received the endorsement of the state's Conservative Party, which had usually supported Stachowski. Kennedy ultimately defeated Stachowski by a margin of 63%-26%.
He defeated Republican Jack Quinn III
in the general election by a margin of 47%-45%. The remaining votes went to Stachowski, who ran on the Independence Party
and Working Families Party
lines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is currently a Democratic
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...
member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, representing the 58th District since 2010. His district includes parts of Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, including part of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and all of Lackawanna
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...
and Cheektowaga
Cheektowaga (town), New York
Cheektowaga is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree...
.
Biography
Kennedy was raised in South BuffaloSouth Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
South Buffalo is a neigborhood that makes up the southern third of the City of Buffalo, New York, USA. Traditionally known for its large Irish-American community, this once heavily industrialized district was home to many steel mills, automotive parts manufacturers, petroleum refineries, foundries,...
, one of five children of Martin and Mary Kennedy. His father works as Buffalo's commissioner of assessment and taxation. He received his early education at St. Martin's Elementary School, and attended high school at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, founded in 1861, is an independent Roman Catholic college preparatory school for young men. Established by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, SJCI is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges...
. He interned for then-State Assemblyman
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and current U.S. Representative
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...
Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the southern two-thirds of Buffalo proper, most of that city's eastern and southern suburbs, and all of Chautauqua County.-Early life, education and career:A native of...
. He earned both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in occupational therapy
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
from D'Youville College
D'Youville College
D'Youville College is a private, coeducational college, independent but with a Roman Catholic tradition. It is located on the West Side of Buffalo, New York, a few blocks from the international Peace Bridge, and has students from around the world...
. He then worked with geriatric and pediatric patients for eleven years.
In December 2004, Kennedy was appointed to the Erie County Legislature
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, representing the 2nd District, after Mark J. F. Schroeder
Mark J. F. Schroeder
Mark J.F. Schroeder is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly representing the 145th Assembly District, which comprises portions of the city of Buffalo , the city of Lackawanna, as well as the entire towns of West Seneca and Orchard...
was elected to the State Assembly. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2007. He was one of three Democratic
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...
members to form a coalition legislature with the six Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
members. 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.
State Senate
In 2010, Kennedy challenged 28-year incumbent William StachowskiWilliam Stachowski
William Stachowski was an American politician and a Democratic State Senator from the 58th district for the State of New York. He was first elected in 1981, but lost the renomination as a Democrat in the 2010 primary election...
for the Democratic nomination for the 58th District in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. He also received the endorsement of the state's Conservative Party, which had usually supported Stachowski. Kennedy ultimately defeated Stachowski by a margin of 63%-26%.
He defeated Republican Jack Quinn III
Jack Quinn III
John Francis "Jack" Quinn, III is a former New York State Assemblyman representing Erie County. He is a Republican, who was first elected in 2004. He is the son of former U.S. Representative Jack Quinn....
in the general election by a margin of 47%-45%. The remaining votes went to Stachowski, who ran on the Independence Party
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
and Working Families Party
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
lines.