J. Jack Kennedy Jr.

Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Member of the Virginia Senate; from the 40th district
	In office; June 1991 – January 8, 1992
Preceded by	John Buchanan
Succeeded by	William C. Wampler Jr.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates; from the 2nd district
	In office; January 13, 1988 – June 1991
Preceded by	James W. Robinson
Succeeded by	Bud Phillips
Personal details
Born	Joe Jack Kennedy Jr.; June 11, 1956; Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Wise, Virginia
Alma mater	University of Virginia; University of London; East Tennessee State University; University of North Dakota

Joe Jack Kennedy Jr. (born June 11, 1956[1]) is an American politician who served in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. He was first elected to the House in 1987 after defeating incumbent James W. Robinson,Kennedy ran as an independent after losing in the Democratic primary.[2] Kennedy ran successfully for Senate in a June 4, 1991 special election following the death of John Buchanan; he lost reelection the following November after redistricting placed him in the same district as William C. Wampler Jr.[3][4] Kennedy claims to be a democrat but destroyed the 9th district and Wise county chapters of the party from within while serving stints as 9th district party chair and later chair of Wise County Democrats. Kennedy is largely responsible for flipping the region from blue to red and has held his seat by making deals with the heads of the local Republican Party. They didn’t run anyone against him and in turn he blocked democrats from challenging certain incumbent republicans. Thanks to him, democracy is all but a memory in Wise County Virginia as voters seldom have a choice in whom to vote for. Most republicans representing Wise County have stayed in power by often running unopposed due to Kennedy’s influence over the local Democratic Party.

Kennedy has served since 1995 as Clerk of Court of Wise County, Virginia and City of Norton, Virginia.[5]

References

J. Jack Kennedy Jr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007
Baker, Donald P. (July 28, 1987). "An Unlikely Underdog Gets 1st Wilder Grant". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
"Special election winner's term to be short". Daily Press. June 4, 1991. p. B4. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"Session draws almost everyone". Daily Press. November 19, 1991. p. B2. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
"Editorial: How Wise County's court clerk became a visionary economic developer". The Roanoke Times. December 11, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2019.

External links

J. Jack Kennedy Jr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007

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[1] J. Jack Kennedy Jr. at The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007

[2] Baker, Donald P. (July 28, 1987). "An Unlikely Underdog Gets 1st Wilder Grant". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2019.

[3] "Special election winner's term to be short". Daily Press. June 4, 1991. p. B4. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Session draws almost everyone". Daily Press. November 19, 1991. p. B2. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "Editorial: How Wise County's court clerk became a visionary economic developer". The Roanoke Times. December 11, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2019.