Candidate Survey: Tom Kennedy for Baltimore City Republican Central Committee, District 11

TheDuckpin.com Candidate Survey

Name*

Tom Kennedy

Age*

64

County*

Baltimore City

District, if Applicable

Baltimore City Councilmanic District 11

Education*

J.D. (1991), Syracuse University U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School: Basic (1991) & Advanced (1999) courses MA (1988, Political Science), Binghamton University MA (1986, English Literature), Binghamton University U.S. Army Engineer Officers Basic Course (1981), Fort Belvoir, Virginia Teaching Certification (1981), Secondary Schools, New York State BA (1980, English), State University of New York U.S. Marine Corps Basic Training (1976), MCRD, San Diego

Career/Occupation*

30 year resident of Baltimore City Attorney Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired)

Political Experience*

2021 - present Chairman, Baltimore City Republican Party 2020 Delegate, Republican National Convention (Jacksonville/COVID-cancelled) 2020 Chairman, Baltimore City for Trump 2018 - 2021 1st Vice Chairman, Baltimore City Republican Party 2017 - 2018 Member, Baltimore City Republican Party 2016 Alternate Delegate, Republican National Convention (Cleveland, OH) 2016 Chairman, Baltimore City for Trump 2015 Chairman, Baltimore City for Cruz 2012 Co-Chairman, Social Media, Maryland for Gingrich 2000 Executive Administrator, Virginia Beach for McCain

Website*

(no campaign website) But if you have a question, email me at tjkkenn@gmail.com

Social Media Accounts*

(no social media campaign) But if you have a question, text me at 443 622 1990

Why are you running for office?*

Any fair evaluation of my work would acknowledge the remarkable progress we've made since I was elected Chairman of the Baltimore City GOP just 15 months ago when my predecessor resigned. -- I recruit quality volunteers, and as a result our central committee is now at full strength for the first time in well over a decade. -- I recruit concerned citizens to run for office, and as a result in the upcoming primary we're running outstanding Republican state senate and delegate candidates in every legislative district (GOP candidates ran in only 3 of the city's 6 districts four years ago). -- I assembled a fundraising team, and as a result we have raised more funds in the past 7 months than were raised in the previous 15 years by the five chairmen who served before me. This is good start, but as Ronaldus Magnus once said, "You ain't seen nuthin' yet." Our mission as Baltimore Republicans is simple: Recruit candidates, and Win elections. That's it. Anything short of that sets the bar too low. In terms of community outreach, fundraising, TV, social media, internet, text messaging, candidate and volunteer recruitment, and on-the-ground interfacing with voters, the Central Committee has never been more active. I'm running for re-election to my 11th Councilmanic seat because I intend to continue the work I began less than a year and a half ago. I believe I have proved to my fellow committee members that I possess the requisite energy and leadership skills to serve a full term as chairman from 2022-2026.

Who do you consider your political role model, and why?*

William F. Buckley, Jr. -- Founder of National Review, which during his long tenure as editor was the greatest of all political journals. -- Host of Firing Line, TV's all-time great political talk show. -- Author of dozens of books on the Conservative movement in America. Buckley lead Republicans out of the bramble, when after 20 consecutive years of Democrat presidents (1932-52), all prescriptions for societal ailments seems to originate on the Left. He offered the conservative alternative and did so with grace, wit, and blazing intelligence. He was an ideological mentor to Ronald Reagan, which alone should put him on the political Mt. Rushmore. His writings instructed generations of Republicans about the true nature and role of government, and his words still have value (and should be read) today.

What is your favorite book about politics and policy, and why?*

Peggy Noonan's autobiographical memoir of her young adulthood and the years leading to appointment as President Ronald Reagan's speechwriter. It's called "What I Saw at the Revolution." Whatever you might think about Noonan today (and she has lost much of her luster in the eyes of former admirers on the Right), this is one great book. Beautifully written, very funny, and a reminder of how American life made a turn for the better during Reagan's two term of office.

What do you see as the role of the Central Committee?*

1. Recruit solid candidates for in-city and state elective offices. 2. Do as much as we can to assist quality candidates communicate conservative values and policies to their constituents. 3. Win elections. 4. Maintain our own infrastructure.

What are the three biggest issues facing your county party?*

1. Election Integrity. The most advanced society in world history ought to be able to hold free, fair, honest, transparent, and verifiable elections...and report the results within 6 hours after polls close. But until we wrest Maryland from the clutches of the Left, we'll continue to be plagued with weeks of early voting, unmonitored drop boxes, unlimited mailed ballots, and other measures that encourage fraud and sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of voters. A more vigorous central committee networked with its voter base will be able to recruit election judges and poll watchers to keep the mischief makers at bay. 2. Reimagining the Republican brand. Baltimore is just about the most dangerous city in America, its school system is the worst in the country, and Democrats are solely responsible for both of these tragedies, but in the minds of most voters it's the Republicans that are the real danger. We have a branding issue, and we are working on it. 3. Awakening the Republican voter. Too often in the past, GOP voters have shown up at city primaries only to find their primary ballot devoid of choices. They look for a sign that their party is active. The prevailing sense has been that the city GOP is sitting on the sidelines. My goal is to activate all aspects of our political operations so that our voters know who we are, where to find us, and how to join the cause.

What are the three biggest issues facing your state party?*

1. Establishing a year-round candidate and volunteer training program. We shouldn't have to rely on The Leadership Institute and other organizations, as helpful as they are. 2. The roles and responsibilities of the vice chairmen are undefined and apparently exist at the pleasure of the state Chairman. I am unaware of any of their duties. The positions seem to be rewards for services rendered to the party (or those who have a lot of free time to campaign). There are several remedies: -- Create three regional vice chairmen, which serve as ombudsmen to the MDGOP based on their geographic location; -- Assign specific roles to each of the three vice chairs, obliging candidates for those offices to run on the basis of their education, work history, or performance at the county level. These roles could include fundraising, candidate training, and voter outreach & communications. 3. Election Integrity. Baltimore should be the focal point of party resources in November to ensure the results are accurate.

What is your position on life issues? (abortion, assisted suicide)*

I am pro-Life. I support the abolition of Roe and returning decisions respecting abortion to the states. I believe any effort to legislate abortion into the third trimester (when virtually all children in the womb are viable outside the womb), partial birth abortion, and post-birth abortion (a/k/a, premeditated murder) should be characterized for what it is, barbarism on the level of vampires. We should be ashamed to live in a state that would legislate such horrific acts. Time will tell what state the State of Maryland is truly in.

What is your position on taxes, spending, and the federal deficit?*

The government is too big, too bloated, too corrupt. Government is best that governs least. Republicans should run on a platform that government perform only those tasks it is equipped to address and leave the rest to the people. Spend less...much less. Tax less at every level. This is the people's money. Stop taking it and wasting it. We're spending $6T to $8T each year and adding trillion dollar annual deficits to a national debt that will never, ever be paid off. What do we get for all this spending? Glistening highways? Super high-speed transcontinental railways? Supersonic air transport? World class schools and education that is the envy of every civilized nation? The eradication of poverty? At $6,000,000,000,000 annually, they could have invented time travel. Where does the money go? Answer: It goes into the crapper. All we get is the status quo, the improvement of nothing, and a fast track to bankruptcy and economic depression. This we can expect from Democrats. Any Republican advocating deficit spending should be purged from the party. In Baltimore... Several hundred administrators earning $100,000+ oversee an abysmally performing school district. FIRE THEM. Fire the superintendent of schools. End woke curricula; grab a shovel and scrape Critical Race Theory, in all its forms, from the classroom. Students need a working knowledge of their society, of their government, of their history, of math and science, of their shared language and literature, of art and music, and those basic skills any young adult would need if he or she is planning immediately to enter the workforce. -- Teaching kids to be suspicious of one another based on their skin color and ethnicity is not only child abuse but a leading indicator of societal suicide.

What is your position on gun rights?*

I support the Second Amendment. I support significant criminal penalties for anyone who uses a gun in the commission of a crime.

Do you believe that Maryland primary elections should be open to independent voters?*

No

Do you believe that the state party and the county parties should be allowed to endorse in primary elections?*

No

Do you believe that Maryland Republican Party auxiliary organizations should have a vote on the Maryland Republican Party executive committee?*

No

Would you support limiting the terms of Maryland Republican Party officers to eight consecutive years in the same office?*

Yes

Was Joe Biden legitimately elected President of the United States in the November 2020 Election?*

No

Do you pledge to accept the results of your election?*

Yes