Marty Kennedy is touting his business credentials as he runs for re-election to the Lawrence City Commission.
"I've approached it initially from a business perspective, to make sure the city was spending money properly and efficiently," Kennedy, longtime co-owner of Kennedy Glass, said of his commission experience. "I think I've proven in a couple instances that a watchful eye can bring efficiency to the commission."
Marty Kennedy is touting his business credentials as he runs for re-election to the Lawrence City Commission. He said he wants to emphasize efficiency in city government.
Kennedy said he had taken a hard line against city projects coming in over budget because of additions or changes midway through construction, "without all the frills they thought were necessary."
Kennedy, 53, has been a Lawrence resident nearly all his life. He was born in Joplin, Mo., but came to town at age 3 when his father, Richard Martin, started the glass business here.
He went to Pinckney School, then to West Junior High "when it was brand new."
"The town thought we would be split in half because we had two junior highs," Kennedy said.
He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1966, joined the U.S. Marine Corps and did a tour in Vietnam, where he was a forward observer for artillery a job that typically had a high casualty rate.
"It wasn't a very good job," he said. "That was a dangerous position. I was lucky to come back, one of the lucky few."
He left the Marines in 1971 and came back to Lawrence to work for the glass company. The bulk of the company's business is in installing windows, doors and auto glass for residents and businesses in the area.
Through the years, he said, he began to get involved in community organizations "to give back to the community that's been so good to our family."
Kennedy served on the board of directors of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and was appointed by then-Mayor Bob Moody to serve on the city's Community Development Block Grant Allocation Committee.
"Just being involved in different organizations like that, and with fund-raisers, I kind of stayed in touch with the town," he said.
In 1997, Kennedy ran for Lawrence City Commission, promising to apply his business sense.
During his term, the commission has wrestled with a series of growth issues. Kennedy said he is "pro-planned and organized growth, just like we plan and grow in business here. I believe we're doing a good job of following the past in our growth process."
In the last year, Kennedy has voted to grant tax abatements to American Eagle Outfitters and DST Systems Inc., but he said he is willing to let a task force determine the extent to which abatements are used in the future.
"Ten years down the road, we'll have the full amount on our tax rolls," he said. "If that business didn't come, it would be zero.
"My position is, I'm following the (abatement) policy. If the policy is changed, which I think it will, I'll follow that."
Kennedy said he is proudest, during his term, of developing an alcohol task force with the leaders of Kansas and Haskell universities to challenge underage drinking "and ensure we had safer streets."
He also pointed to construction of a new indoor aquatic center and arts center as highlights, as well as city planning and purchasing for future parks.
"They're important just to maintain the integrity of the town," he said. "Parks are a major part of the community and each one of our neighborhoods."
Kennedy said he remains concerned with revitalizing Lawrence neighborhoods and with continuing traffic issues.
"Having been here so many years," he said, "I kind of have a pulse of how the community is doing."
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