Timothy M. Kennedy (born October 20, 1976) is an American politician from New York. He is currently a Democratic member of the New York State Senate, representing the 58th District since 2010. His district includes parts of Erie County, including part of Buffalo and all of Lackawanna and Cheektowaga.
Kennedy was raised in South Buffalo, one of five children of Martin and Mary Kennedy.[1] His father works as Buffalo's commissioner of assessment and taxation.[2] He received his early education at St. Martin's Elementary School, and attended high school at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. He interned for then-State Assemblyman and current U.S. Representative Brian Higgins.[2] He earned both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in occupational therapy from D'Youville College.[3] He then worked with geriatric and pediatric patients for eleven years.
In December 2004, Kennedy was appointed to the Erie County Legislature, representing the 2nd District, after Mark J. F. Schroeder was elected to the State Assembly.[4] He was re-elected in 2005 and 2007. He was one of three Democratic members to form a coalition legislature with the six Republican members.[5][2] During his tenure, he served as chairman of the legislature's Economic Development Committee and vice-chairman of the Public Safety Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors at the Erie County Industrial Development Agency.[1]
In 2010, Kennedy challenged 28-year incumbent William Stachowski for the Democratic nomination for the 58th District in the New York State Senate.[6] He also received the endorsement of the state's Conservative Party, which had usually supported Stachowski.[5] Kennedy ultimately defeated Stachowski by a margin of 63%-26%.[7]
He defeated Republican Jack Quinn III in the general election by a margin of 43%-40%.[8] The remaining votes went to Stachowski, who ran on the Independence Party and Working Families Party lines.[9]
Kennedy lives in South Buffalo with his wife, Katie, and his two children, Connor and Eireann.[1]
| Preceded by | Erie County, New York Legislator, 2nd District 2004—2011 |
Succeeded by Timothy J. Whalen |
| Preceded by | New York State Senator, 58th District 2011—present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
