Kennedy’s 30 years of public service are tough act to follow
Dennis Kennedy’s notable life callings have been those of IBM mechanical engineer, U.S. Army lieutenant, mayor, father and friend.
But he’s offered the best kind of service – the kind often unrewarded, unnoticed, highly criticized and given unconditionally – in the public arena while leading Morgan Hill into the 21st century since 1977.
His political journey has included his 10 years as the only elected top leader of the city during five two-year consecutive terms and an almost two-year appointment to the office, when he was serving as mayor pro tem and a recall election forced the then mayor and two council members out of office in 1992.
Soon after moving to the city in 1976, when Kennedy was only 38 years old, at the threshold of middle age, “Mr. Morgan Hill” found purpose in becoming a public servant. Aided by his charisma, eloquence, listening skills and community-building spirit, Kennedy materialized his goals to transform Morgan Hill from a small rural town into a smart micropolis that continues to thrive.
Now after nearly three decades at City Hall, he’s stepping down. He’s left an indelible mark on the local political scene. Mayor-elect Steve Tate will have some big shoes to fill.
His three terms on the city’s planning commission, four years on the city council, two terms on the city’s General Plan Update Committee meant sound development, good planning and balanced growth between residential, commercial and industrial zones.
He also served for 12 years on the Valley Transportation Authority board of directors. His proudest accomplishment is the building of the median barrier installed along U.S. Route 101 from Cochrane Road south all the way to the southern edge of Gilroy after the tragic death of local teens in 2000.
He also ushered an ambitious era of public building structures to give Morgan Hill residents a better quality of life with the construction of the Aquatics Center, the Community and Cultural Center, the Centennial Recreation Center, the Community Playhouse and the new Morgan Hill Library, to name a few.
His love for the city was evident in his undaunted pursuit of the mayor’s job for more than a decade. When many were suggesting he let others lead, he would not step down. He was confident in his knowledge of the city’s needs and in his belief that only he could deliver the vision his constituents had created with his help for Morgan Hill.
He applied his engineering skills to create a unique city design after moving here from San Jose because he wanted to live in a small community where he could make a difference and enjoy a slower pace of living. Plans at the time were to grow leaps and bounds, but supported by others who shared his vision he attended meetings and slowed things down ultimately preserving the qualities of life he had moved here for.
On Nov. 18, almost 200 people attended a farewell dinner for Kennedy. The event was appropriately held at the Community and Cultural Center, a gathering place that Kennedy strongly supported and was an instrumental force in its completion. In fact, we learned that Kennedy actually climbed to the roof during its construction to personally inspect the building’s air conditioning system. Another example of Kennedy’s dedication to getting the best for Morgan Hill residents.
During the dinner’s toast, many residents paid tribute to his unique brand of leadership. He was praised for his commitment to listening intently and respectfully to community members. In fact, he often counseled newly elected councilmembers to become good and better listeners. And while this commitment may have made for longer meetings, or deferred or delayed decisions, in the end, they came to praise him.
Kennedy was also lauded for his genuine dedication to including, involving and inviting a broad community spectrum to participate in making Morgan Hill a better place for everyone.
Kennedy is a hard act to follow. The tendency for most politicians – especially newly elected ones – is to assume that voters have given them a mandate, an authorization to proceed with their particular agenda. Hopefully, our newly elected leaders won’t forget that great leaders are those who listen to their constituents.
We wish Kennedy well. He still has so much more to give to the public. A bid for higher public office, be it the state assembly or some other seat, would suit him well. We will silently enjoy watching him explore his other pursuits just as we enjoyed watching him serve his city with love and dedication.
