The following announcement was submitted by the candidate.
Editor’s note: While we endeavor to print a candidate’s announcement as written, we take exception to profanity.
MOBILE, ALA. – February 7, 2018: Robert Kennedy, Jr., a former Naval Officer and current business professional, is running for the Democratic Nomination to become the U.S. Representative for Alabama’s First Congressional District. He is the first to qualify from the Democratic party, and he is the only competitor currently slated to challenge the Republican incumbent. Kennedy, whose family has deep roots in south Alabama, brings a solutions-oriented perspective to regional, national, and global issues drawn from a repository of military and business experiences.
“In the run-up to the recent government shutdown, we watched political leaders on both sides of the aisle blame each other for the dysfunction that permeates the United States Congress,” said Kennedy. “Rather than working collaboratively to complete the work of his constituents, our local U.S. Representative contributed to the dysfunction by providing status updates peppered with buzz words, sound bites, and incomplete information. To counter that behavior, I will model an approach that involves discussing and debating complex policy issues substantively. In short, I will organize and run a campaign the same way I intend to represent South Alabama in Washington, D.C. – like I’ve got some —- sense.”
Robert grew up in Prichard, Alabama. He attended the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church and John S. Shaw High School. After graduating with honors,
he left home to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. While attending the Naval Academy, Robert served as class president, sang in the gospel choir, and spent two summers as a volunteer in the Mobile District Office of Congressman H.L. (Sonny) Callahan (R – Alabama District 1).
Upon graduating from the Naval Academy, Robert was stationed in Japan where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer on an amphibious transport dock, and in Singapore where he served as the Officer-In-Charge of the Military Department on a combat oiler. Robert spent a total of nine years on active duty in the United States Navy and completed overseas deployments in the Asia Pacific and Arabian Gulf operating areas.
After completing his military service, Robert entered Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business where, on the first day of classes, he met his future wife, Aqualyn Laury Kennedy. Upon graduating from Duke, Robert launched his civilian career in the casino industry, and subsequently transitioned into retail.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Science in Leadership & Human Resource Development from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University.
The Alabama primary election is on June 05, 2018, and the general election is on Tuesday, November 6th. Learn more about Robert Kennedy, Jr. and upcoming events by visiting www.Kennedy4Alabama.org and signing up for campaign announcements.