A life-long resident of St. Louis, Senator Kennedy is committed to promoting and supporting issues of human services and economic benefits to the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Before being elected to the Missouri State Senate in December 2001, Senator Kennedy served as a state representative for five years. He is also Democrat Committeeman of the 14th Ward of St. Louis.

Senator Kennedy received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. In addition to being a state senator, he is employed as a Realtor.

Senator Kennedy is a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, St. Louis Police Citizen’s Academy, University of Missouri-St. Louis Alumni Association, National Council of State Legislators, Advisory Council of the Missouri Kidney Program and a board member of Magdalen Community Improvement Corporation and the Bevo Long Community Education Center.

Senator Kennedy has received many honors in his career, including being selected for the 2005 Henry Toll Fellowship Program and receiving the 2005 Appreciation Award from the Missouri Home Builders Association, the 2004 Senator of the Year Award from the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, the 2002 Excellence in Health Care Legislation Award from the Missouri Nurses Association, the 2002 Legislative Award from the Missouri State Medical Association, the 2002 Presidential Citation for Alumni Service Award from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and the 2002 “for kids, for now, for ever” Award from SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.