As previously reported at IPR, Joe Kennedy was looking at running for US Senate in Massachusetts, and he has now declared:
My name is Joe Kennedy and I am running as an Independent to fill the open Senate seat for the State of Massachusetts in the special election. I have created this site to inform you of my views and to garner your support. I am not a politician, however I am well versed in many of the political issues which we face today. I firmly believe we need more individuals to take an active role in government as the average politician seems to have lost their understanding of what life outside politics is like. I think the most important role of a politician is to listen to the citizens they represent and make sure that view point is accurately echoed in the decisions made in Washington. I know that is not happening today as many of our politicians are turning a deaf ear to the wishes of the average citizen.
You will find that my views are closely aligned with the Libertarian party, but I think it is important to let you understand my opinions on all the topics and let you judge for yourself how I will represent the people from Massachusetts. I am posting my opinions on the major issues facing our Federal Government in the Issues section listed above. Please take your time to read them. It is very important that we as a nation not vote for a person, but the set of beliefs that person will bring to Washington to represent our fellow citizens. If we don’t, we will continue to get more of the same representation.
As I am an average citizen I do not have a campaign fund, nor the ability to obtain the required signatures to get on the ballot. I greatly appreciate any donations you can make to my campaign committee and any signatures you can obtain for me from other registered voters in your community. To donate, simply click the donate button at the top of the screen. To collect signatures for me, please click here or on the Volunteer tab above.
Thank you for your support, I look forward to working for you.
Joe Kennedy
On the website he also explains,
The Kennedy Name
To preempt any potential confusion caused by my name, I claim no relation to the family or relatives of President John F. Kennedy. The surname Kennedy is very common in Massachusetts to the extent that I have encountered a number of people with the name Joe Kennedy over the years.
Additionally I have waited to ensure that no one from the family of John F. Kennedy was going to run for the position previously held by Edward Kennedy. Only with Joseph P Kennedy’s validation that he is not going to run would I even consider my own candidacy for office. Their family has a proud heritage in politics which I believe should be allowed to continue, if they so desire. I say this not to diminish my conviction for the position, but out of respect for the work and the great contributions their family has made to American politics.
and:
made my initial decision to run for Senate in February of this year (2009) with my original objective being to run in 2012. My assumption as well as the assumption of my advisors was that the Senator would retire in 2012 giving me the opportunity to run for office. Given the strong voting history of the people of Massachusetts, I did not believe I would be able to defeat an incumbent thus my decision to wait for someone to retire.
My immediate concerns regarding government lie more on the Federal level than at the State level which is why I am aiming for a position in the Federal Government. As this would be a large personal change and require a firm commitment to public service, I made the decision early that I were make such a change, I would prefer to do it for 6 years (as a Senator) and not for 2 (as a Congressman).
Go Joe, get over your name. I’m an old lady with a love for my contry and do not like what all of these selfish politicians are doing to our country.
Before I found out your weren’t related to the Kenedys You reminded me of JFK
We need you in politics! If you do indorse some one I believe it should be the republican to give congress some restraint from all of there creazieness the republicans are under the gun, maybe they will be forced to look to the desires of the people. Our country needs you. Hang in there.
I had the brief pleasure to meet Joe Kennedy over a bowl of delicious clam chowder on Sunday afternoon in Boston on my way back home here in California. Joe strikes me as an ideal LP candidate: he’s articulate, he’s presentable, and has a credible position with a major company. What’s more, he seems to have the drive to make his U.S. Senate candidacy into a reality.
I intend on sending me a contribution to show my support.
Mark Hinkle,
LNC Region 2 (CA) Rep.
Where is the Kennedy Campaign today? I just finished writing the L volunteers I know around Massachusetts:
Fellow Libertarian Volunteers!
I have good news.
A member of our National Party has decided to run for U.S. Senate in the special election. His Attorney pulled the required papers last week. To my knowledge, he is the only national or state party member in the race.
He brings to the campaign a Massachusetts advantage — he was born with the name Joe Kennedy.
Now Joe Kennedy — the libertarian Joe Kennedy — needs to get on the ballot. We have one lucky break. At the start of August, his party registration was Unenrolled (independent). That cuts in half the number
of people who need to be asked to sign his nominating papers.
Joe Kennedy still needs to collect over 15,000 signatures by November.
He isn’t personally wealthy. He can’t pay for ballot access petitioning by himself. He’d need almost $20,000 for ballot access.
He needs the help of our corps of volunteers. That’s you.
It’s a personal decision. Do you want on the ballot someone who supports our libertarian principles? Or do you want to choose between a
Democrat, a Republican, and a Green?
You can read about him at http://joekennedyforsenate.com/
TO REQUEST PETITIONS, EMAIL HIM AT
Joe Kennedy
Donations can be mailed to Committee to Elect Joe Kennedy to Senate, 20 Hyde Park St., Dedham, MA 02026.
Is he working on the campaign? I watched him yesterday at the Boston Freedom Rally. All the time your state party volunteers were running an OPH booth, Joe Kennedy was hard at work, collecting signatures.
Best wishes,
George Phillies
No, I am not connected with his campaign.
Joe Kennedy said that if the better known Joe Kennedy ran, then he would drop out.
Their family has a proud heritage in politics which I believe should be allowed to continue, if they so desire.
No one and no family deserves any political position. It would actually be cool if Joe Kennedy ran against Joe Kennedy. We could see how many people actually knew who they were voting for. I’ll bet if he gets on the ballot there will be many that vote for him because of his name not knowing who he is.