Then….

A life-long resident of South Philadelphia, Jim Kenney is the son of
a Philadelphia fire chief and a working mother. First elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1991, he is currently serving his fourth term in office as a Democratic Councilman-at-Large. He was the highest vote-getter in both the 1999 and 2003 general council-at-large elections.  Prior to City Council, Kenney worked as the Chief of Staff to State Senator Vince Fumo. 

Since taking office in January 1992, Councilman Kenney has built a well-deserved reputation for hard work and a willingness to tackle the tough problems confronting the City of Philadelphia.  Kenney’s recent initiatives include zoning and planning reform laws, Rainy Day Fund legislation, improving the region's information technology industry, neighborhood revitalization and quality of life, and protecting children to and from city schools. 

The Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Kenney’s 1999 reelection, declaring him “the most energetic and forward-thinking member of City Council,” and “the best and most capable.”   Other endorsements included the Philadelphia Black Clergy, the Northeast Times ("the most effective member of Council") and Philadelphia Weekly ("the smartest member on Council today").

Now…

As a Councilman-at-Large, Kenney presently serves as Chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee and the Committee of the Environment.. He is Vice-Chairman of the Law & Government Committee and a member of the Rules, Public Property & Public Works, Public Health & Human Services, Labor & Civil Service, Public Safety, and Ethics Committees.

Kenney is involved with a number of civic organizations and presently serves on the boards of Independence Blue Cross, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, First Penn Bank, P.S.A. Financial Corporation, Penn's Landing Corporation, and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, among others.  He also teaches a weekly class at the Fels Center of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, educating students on local politics.

Councilman Kenney is currently focusing his efforts on many exciting programs which will allow Philadelphia to flourish to both residents and visitors alike.  He has chaired hearings on many issues which will directly impact the city, including developing a 311 system which would help residents place and track requests for city services, placing instant hand sanitizers in city schools, as well as several essential pieces of zoning reform to make zoning and planning issues more accessible to city residents and developers.

The Councilman has also introduced many lesser-known resolutions which will greatly impact the city including a municipal hybrid vehicle program, eliminating the city’s resign to run requirement, and honoring the great memory of Philadelphian O.V. Catto.

Kenney is a 1976 graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School, and worked his way through LaSalle University, majoring in political science. He and his wife Maureen are the proud parents of two children, Brendan and Nora.

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The Next Scheduled Council Session is

THURSDAY, September 20th,

City Hall Room 400 , 10 a.m

Upcoming Public Hearings