Candidate for
Supervisor; County of Santa Clara; Supervisorial District 1

Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy is a swift decisive leader. From improving the quality of life in Morgan Hill to commanding a US Army platoon in Cold War Europe, Kennedy has proven many times over that he can get things done.

For more than 25 years, Kennedy has demonstrated his effectiveness in the public policy arena serving as a Planning Commissioner, Councilmember and Mayor of Morgan Hill. Through his efforts, Kennedy has helped his city become a shining example of ìsmart growth. Under his leadership, Morgan Hill has created ample affordable housing and has worked to balance jobs, housing, commerce and industry while preserving the areas precious open space and agricultural land.

Currently, employed as a transportation consultant, Mayor Kennedy has served on the Santa Clara County Transportation Commission and currently is in his second term on the Valley Transportation Authority. A regional advocate, Kennedy was a leader in the creation of CalTrain service to South County and since 1990, he has led the effort to widen US Highway 101 between Morgan Hill and San Jose, a project that broke ground in August 2001.

In 1999, Mayor Kennedy spearheaded the effort to install a median barrier along a dangerous stretch of Highway 101 from Morgan Hill to south of Gilroy. The project was completed in record time.

In addition to his extensive transportation experience, Kennedy helped found the Morgan Hill Community Health Foundation, a group dedicated to restoring medical services to the city as well as improving health care for all of South County.

Mayor Kennedy has served on numerous boards including as President of the Santa Clara County Cities Association, Chairman of the South County Regional Wastewater Authority, and the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate of Bellarmine College Prep, Kennedy was a varsity athlete at Santa Clara University where he received his engineering degree. Following college, he served in the US Army as an Artillery Officer and was ultimately stationed on the East-West German Border near Kassel, Germany. Dennis was honorably discharged from the Army with a rank of First Lieutenant. Following his military service, Kennedy worked in aerospace and for 25 years as an engineer and manager at IBM.

Mayor Kennedy is married to Eileen, a surgical nurse, and he has one adult son, Matthew, an employee of AMTRAK.