Changes

In 1988, Kennedy first entered politics as the special legal counsel for incoming Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], a Democrat who switched parties in 1991. He returned to the private practice of law until 1996, when Governor [[Mike Foster]], another Democrat-turned-Republican, appointed Kennedy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue.<ref>Ron Gomez, ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'', ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), isbn=0-9700156-0-7, p. 247</ref>

In 1988, Kennedy first entered politics as the special legal counsel for incoming Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], a Democrat who switched parties in 1991. He returned to the private practice of law until 1996, when Governor [[Mike Foster]], another Democrat-turned-Republican, appointed Kennedy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue.<ref>Ron Gomez, ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative'', ([[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]]: Zemog Publishing, 2000), isbn=0-9700156-0-7, p. 247</ref>

Though born in southwestern [[Mississippi]], Kennedy was reared in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, near the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. He resides, however, in Madisonville in St. Tammany Parish is [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]].

Though born in southwestern [[Mississippi]], Kennedy was reared in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, near the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. He resides in Madisonville in St. Tammany Parish is [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]], sixty-six miles from Baton Rouge.

Senator Kennedy endorsed his fellow St. Tammany Parish resident, Republican former state Representative [[John Schroder]] in the special election runoff held on November 18, 2017, to choose Kennedy's successor as state treasurer. Schroder won his race for treasurer.

Senator Kennedy endorsed his fellow St. Tammany Parish resident, Republican former state Representative [[John Schroder]] in the special election runoff held on November 18, 2017, to choose Kennedy's successor as state treasurer. Schroder won his race for treasurer.

In June 2018, Kennedy called upon Louisiana's Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] to step down from his position and turn the office over to Lieutenant Governor [[Billy Nungesser]], a Republican. Kennedy is critical of Edwards' repeated calling of special legislative sessions to obtain more tax increases to close a state budget deficit. Kennedy maintains spending must first be reduced before higher taxes should be considered. Edwards' office called Kennedy's demand "absurd."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_a5197e72-6e5c-11e8-a322-fff7ebf6289f.html|title=Sen. John Kennedy: John Bel Edwards should resign; governor's office says that's 'absurd' |publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy's opposition to Edwards drew the scrutiny of the [[liberal]] ''Baton Rouge Advocate'' newspaper, which claimed the U.S. senator

In June 2018, Kennedy called upon Louisiana's Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] to step down from his position and turn the office over to Lieutenant Governor [[Billy Nungesser]], a Republican. Kennedy is critical of Edwards' repeated calling of special legislative sessions to obtain more tax increases to close a state budget deficit. Kennedy maintains spending must first be reduced before higher taxes should be considered. Edwards' office called Kennedy's demand "absurd."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_a5197e72-6e5c-11e8-a322-fff7ebf6289f.html|title=Sen. John Kennedy: John Bel Edwards should resign; governor's office says that's 'absurd' |publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy's opposition to Edwards drew the scrutiny of the [[liberal]] ''Baton Rouge Advocate'' newspaper, which claimed the U.S. senator is using his office as "a platform for politically absurd suggestions" and should instead "focus on what is really important to those that elected him. The U.S. Senate, Kennedy's ostensible workplace, hasn't exactly been a model of accomplishment lately. If the senator is worried about the lack of political leadership these days, he should start by looking into the mirror."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_86570780-6e7e-11e8-b7ff-23a402c6376d.html|title=Our Views: John Kennedy worried about lack of leadership? He should look into the mirror (commentary)|publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref>