Meet Todd
J. Todd Kennedy has deep roots in our community. Born at Rex Hospital, he grew up in nearby Smithfield and moved to Raleigh in 1996 after completing an undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. He and his wife both stayed in the area after college because they knew Raleigh was a place to build a future and a family due to the strong job market and world class public schools. He and his wife, a graduate of NC State and a licensed clinical social worker, have one son who is 12 and attends public school.
Throughout his more than 25 years in Raleigh, Todd has demonstrated an enduring commitment to the community. He has served as Chair of the Raleigh Human Relations Commission, Vice-Chair of the Raleigh Environmental Advisory Board, member of the Board of Directors for DHIC affordable housing nonprofit, member of the Family Selection Committee and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and a volunteer for SPCA’s AniMeals program helping seniors and their pets, among others.
In addition to service, Todd has built a successful career partnering with communities, government agencies, and non-profits to develop solutions for public infrastructure and the environment. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and currently works for a global consulting and engineering firm here in the Triangle.
Why I'm Running
We are coming out of a considerably difficult period in our city’s history with the pandemic and the protests of 2020. Though we are now facing some hopefully short-term difficulties around inflation and the economy, the future of Raleigh is bright. To realize our best future and prosperity for all, we have to change the tone, find common ground, and enact practical solutions to the challenges of our rapidly growing city.
My wife and I have enjoyed a wonderful quality of life in this city. We chose this city as the place to build our careers and raise a family. I want to help ensure that my son’s generation has a quality of life and opportunities that are even better. We all want that for ourselves and our children. The decisions we make in the next several years around growth and infrastructure, public safety, and public amenities like our parks and greenways will determine what that future looks like.
My vision of the future is one where all residents can create a full life in this amazing city, are able raise a family and feel safe, have more transit and mobility options, enjoy a fully realized Dix Park along with all our other great parks and greenways, and are able to live in housing that is affordable. This is a future where our residents feel heard, our city is inclusive, and that we are resilient.
Raleigh does great things as a city when we have bold leadership and think to the future. I’ll bring an independent voice for District D to the city council drawing on my decades of experience in the community and in my vocation, an open mind, and a collaborative, consensus-building leadership style, to make sure that the decisions we make today ensure we have a great city for all in the decades ahead.
Todd
