Morgan Hill – Being a businessman and an environmentalist takes balance. But it’s something Alex Kennett doesn’t find difficult.
“They are not mutually exclusive. For instance, I like growth, but I want smart growth. You can’t stop people from being here, so you should embrace it – provide them the most environmentally friendly-growth possible,” said Kennett, 59, who’s making his first bid for the Morgan Hill City Council the Nov. 7 election.
Kennett has been active in community affairs for more than two decades, having helped save Morgan Hill’s annual Fourth of July parade in 1991 during a city fiscal crisis. He ran his own food brokerage firm for 22 years, served as president and executive director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and currently serves in an elected post as district one director of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority.
A Morgan Hill-area resident since 1979, Kennett grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in history. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He’s served in the National Guard and is retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
“I’m concerned the city should be more honest,” said Kennett, who’s criticized the city’s community conversations process as a “private chat.” “Members of the community were left out. The result was preordained.”
Kennett’s top priorities, if elected, would be environmental sensitivity, fiscal responsibility and “user-friendly” transparent government. He is a member of the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club. He said downtown development is important, but feels public services much catch up with growth.
“Maintenance of environmental and life-quality issues must not be forgotten,” he said.
Kennett chairs the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s economic development committee and government review committee, and serves on the board of directors of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network.
ALEX KENNETT
AGE: 59
OCCUPATION: Business consultant
EDUCATION: Southern Oregon University; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
BACKGROUND: Currently district one director, Santa Clara County Open Space Authority; Board member, former executive director of Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce; president of Independence Day Inc.
ENDORSEMENTS: U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren; League of Conservation Voters; Sierra Club; Morgan Hill City Councilman Mark Grzan; Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall; Santa Clara Valley Water District Director Rosemary Kamei; State Assemblyman John Laird.
WEB SITE: alexkennett4council.com
E-MAIL: ak******@****ic.com
PHONE: (408) 221-1369
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tburchyns@morganhilltimes.
