March 07, 2013

By KENNETH MILLER

LAWT Writer

 

John J. Kennedy, whose roots in the Pasadena community spans 70-years, captured a seat on the Pasadena City Council winning 55% of the vote and avoiding a runoff in the March 5 municipal elections.

“I think the voters in District 3 are speaking volumes in terms of my message,” said Kennedy, who described his message as increasing quality of life and economic growth while maintaining government accountability. “I’m looking forward to extraordinary collaborations and just providing the very best service to my district."

Kennedy, 51, had raised more than $77,000 for his council campaign as of late February, according to reports filed with the Pasadena city clerk’s office.

The area is currently represented by developer Joel Bryant, who was appointed to serve as an interim council member on Jan. 22. The new council member will begin his term on May 6.

Kennedy works as an executive of the Urban League after working for Southern California Edison (SCE) as the senior project manager for community involvement ensuring that local organizations made good use of SCE grants toward education, health, human services, the arts and the environment.

He has worked for city governments in Pasadena as manager of transportation and Richmond, Virginia as deputy chief of police for administrative services. He started the Pasadena Police Foundation and served as the organization’s first secretary.

Kennedy also knows what it’s like to own a small business having started his own management consulting firm in 1987.

Kennedy comes from humble beginnings, growing up in Pasadena, the eighth child of 10, with seven sisters and two brothers. He attended and graduated from Blair High School where he began to show promise as student body president. He later attended USC attaining his degree in International Relations and Economics with a certificate of defense in strategic study.

Category: Community