TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Lawyer, Activist To Serve On St. Pete Council

ADVERTISEMENT

By CARLOS MONCADA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Despite a telephonic glitch, the city council Thursday chose a lawyer and three-term president of a domestic violence support group to fill out the term of former chairman John Bryan, who resigned and later committed suicide Sept. 7.

James Kennedy, 50, is a 24-year city resident and civil litigator focusing on family law, personal injury and estate planning.

He has a long history of community involvement, including more than 15 years with Community Action Stops Abuse, which serves battered women and their children.

'I've been more and more excited about the possibility of serving on city council,' Kennedy said.

'The city of St. Petersburg has been very good to me and I look forward to the opportunity to serve the city and the residents of District 2.'

Kennedy was among five people who sought to complete the remainder of Bryan's term, which is up in January 2010.

He will be sworn in at a special council session at 9 a.m. Monday.

District 2 covers the northern reaches of St. Petersburg. Council members, who must live in the districts they represent, are paid $39,330 annually.

Kennedy's selection followed an unusual council session in which one member, Earnest Williams, participated from South Africa by calling a speakerphone in the council chambers.

Williams was taking part in a trade mission organized by Enterprise Florida, which promotes economic development statewide.

At one point, Williams lost his connection.

He was able to reconnect about five minutes later, and the seven council members continued their session, casting the required four votes Kennedy needed for the appointment.

Bryan's name was never mentioned during the 75-minute session. A two-term council member, he committed suicide in Floral City at his second home amid a criminal investigation into allegations that he sexually abused the two adopted teenage girls who had been living with him and his wife, Alicia.

Police Chief Chuck Harmon announced Sept. 27 that had Bryan been alive, investigators would have recommended charging him with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT