Deb Kennedy


Deb Kennedy is the former Democratic State Representative in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 23rd District, which covers parts of Wayne County. The 23rd District includes Brownstown, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Huron Township, Rockwood, Sumpter Township, and Woodhaven. She served as the Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Labor, and as a member of the House Committees on Great Lakes and Environment, Intergovernmental & Regional Affairs, and Education.

Early life and education

She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Central Michigan University.

Career

Kennedy, who sold for Mary Kay Cosmetics, began her career for the company as an independent consultant 30 years ago. She also formerly served as an Executive Director for an agency that offered direct human services including a 24-hour crisis telephone hotline, senior transportation, parent aides, and Toys for Tots. Kennedy served as Trustee on the Woodhaven-Brownstown Board of Education and continues to serve on their education foundation board of directors.
Kennedy is a member of the Wyandotte First Presbyterian Church, having served on the church's governing body, and as chair of its strategic planning task force. Kennedy is active in many local charitable organizations and social groups including: Downriver Council for the Arts, Flat Rock Soroptomists, Friends of the Detroit River, Woodhaven Relay for Life, American Association of University Women, and Brownstown Moose. She assisted in the creation of a program that offered free mammogram screenings at a local hospital and worked to relocate Hurricane Katrina victims in Michigan. She also helped prevent a medical waste incinerator from being built in Brownstown.
As State Representative, one of Kennedy's priorities is education so Michigan's children can compete in the 21st century global economy. She also sponsors legislation to encourage the state and businesses to buy American-made products and a bill to ban the use of a hazardous, toxic chemical used as a flame retardant in certain electronics and upholstery.

2008 election

The general election for Representative in State Legislature of the 23rd District took place on November 4, 2008.
CandidatesVotesPercent
Neil C. DeBlois 18,37640.42
Deb Kennedy 26,98759.35

Legislation introduced

Representative Kennedy has introduced 20 bills.
Representative Kennedy has introduced 2 amendments.
A long-time resident of Brownstown Township, Kennedy and her husband, Alex, have been married for 32 years and have raised two sons together.