WATCH: Jim Kennedy, Candidate for Congress, Discusses Civil Discourse and Environment

By  //  October 22, 2020

Jim Kennedy, Democrat, for the 8th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives


ABOVE VIDEO: Jim Kennedy, Candidate for Congress discusses civil discourse, environment and reason for running.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Jim Kennedy, Democrat, for the 8th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives.

After nearly a year and a half of talking with people on the campaign trail, political newcomer, Jim Kennedy (D-Merritt Island) has found that for most of the residents of Florida’s 8th Congressional District it’s less about “right and left” and more about “right and wrong.”

And that’s just fine with Jim. When Space Coast Daily’s Giles Malone asked in a recent interview what would make him different from the others in DC, Kennedy replied, “I’m not interested in being a career politician. I would like to get up there and see the things everyone wants, get done.”

Kennedy is challenging six-term incumbent Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) for the seat in Congress which represents Brevard, Indian River and an eastern portion of Orange County. Mr. Posey is campaigning on his staunch conservative values and his endorsement from the President.

However, Mr. Kennedy has found in his meeting with people, that most are looking for less partisan politics and more meeting in the middle to accomplish what needs to get done. And, as a fiscally responsible, moderate Democrat, right in the middle is where Kennedy is most comfortable.

Mr. Kennedy learned the value of teamwork as a young enlistee in the US Navy and then after earning his degree in engineering, took those skills with him as a government contractor working on defense department projects.

After nearly a year and a half of talking with people on the campaign trail, political newcomer, Jim Kennedy (D-Merritt Island), above, has found that for most of the residents of Florida’s 8th Congressional District it’s less about “right and left” and more about “right and wrong.”

As a rocket scientist at the Kennedy Space Center, he’s honed his abilities as a collaborator working alongside professionals from an array of disciplines to achieve successful outcomes to complex missions. Working together to tackle tough problems is a skill set Jim will bring with him to Congress.

If there is one issue most everyone along the Space Coast can agree on, it’s that the Indian River Lagoon is in big trouble. Mr. Posey was one the co-founders of the Estuary Caucus in Congress, a group of legislators whose districts include the 28 estuaries across the country. While several of those fragile ecosystems continue to acquire funding for major projects, our Lagoon is getting another “study.”

“There has been study after study over the years. We need to make the hard choices and quit kicking the can down the road,” Kennedy recently commented.

“This is not a partisan issue and we need to shift into action before the Lagoon gets to a point where it is beyond repair.”

The Indian River Lagoon delivers $7.6 billion annually to our regional economy so, the poor water quality risks our environment, our quality of life and our economy. Kennedy insists it’s time to stop playing politics and save the Lagoon.

While Mr. Posey has his heels dug firmly in as a member of the Freedom Caucus, Mr. Kennedy looks towards collaborating with moderates from both parties to tackle the crisis of both health and economy that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us. He understands that until the health crisis is managed, the economy will remain in jeopardy.

As a scientist, he is accustomed to gathering all available data from professionals in their field of expertise and following their guidance. And, once the pandemic is under control, Kennedy has a bold plan for economic recovery which will include training for un/under-employed Americans, the infrastructure projects Congress has been promising for years and a pathway to a thriving Main Street which will build back a strong middle class.

When Jim first discussed a run for Congress with his family and friends, they told him he needed a slogan. He quickly replied with “that’s easy – Better Together” because Jim truly believes that we are Better Together.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Jim Kennedy, Democrat, for the 8th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives.