The government bulldog as your fiscal watchdog.
John M. Kennedy, Jr. has lived and worked in Suffolk County his entire life, dedicating himself to improving the lives of fellow residents. The oldest of six children, he grew up in a blue collar, working class family, delivering newspapers, mowing lawns and was a member of Boy Scout Troop 8. His late parents, Joan and Jack Kennedy (former head of the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades Council) instilled important values and a strong work ethic in their family.
That strong work ethic earned John a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Biology from SUNY Stony Brook. While working full-time, he earned his Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Capital Budgeting and J.D. from St. John’s University.
First elected to Suffolk County Legislature in 2005, he earned high levels of support from the residents of the 12 Legislative District, often reaching 75% of the vote. In a 2011 endorsement for his re-election to the 12th Legislative District, Newsday called John “a pragmatic, independent thinker” the kind that Suffolk needs.
In John’s capacity as the 12th District Legislator and Minority Leader, he served on four committees: Budget and Finance, Economic Development, Public Safety, and Ways and Means. These committees are vital to the budgetary and fiscal health of Suffolk County. Over his ten years as a County Legislator, John passed pivotal legislation benefitting our veterans, preserving local open space, and protecting our groundwater and community ecosystems.
John was first elected Suffolk County Comptroller in November of 2014. As Comptroller, he serves as the County’s Chief Fiscal Officer, charged with auditing county departments and nonprofit agencies funded by the county. On January 1st of 2016, he also took on the powers and duties of the County Treasurer, successfully merging the offices and saving taxpayers over $2 Million per year.
John knows where and how your tax dollars are spent. He also has a clear-eyed view of the county’s problems, both fiscally and operationally. As County Comptroller, he has been a proven fiscal watchdog. He has aggressively enforced audits and has worked to uncover and expose a tremendous amount of waste, fraud and abuse – saving taxpayers in excess over $50 million dollars, while serving as a check on the power of a Democrat Administration. He has ensured that businesses and individuals are paying their fair share of taxes, has maximized interest earned on taxpayer accounts, and has received national recognition for his office’s management of taxpayer dollars.
As a public servant with over 30 years of experience serving the residents of Suffolk, John recognizes that difficult times require elected officials who are willing to approach the communities needs creatively.
A lifelong county resident, John lives in Nesconset with wife Leslie, Suffolk County Legislator for the 12th Legislative district. They are blessed with four adult children and seven grandchildren.
On November 8th, Keep Kennedy, Re-elect Suffolk County’s Fiscal Watchdog.
#YourFiscalWatchDog
