Candidate Profile: James Kennedy Incumbent for Mauldin City Council Seat 4

James Kennedy, the incumbent for Seat 4 on Mauldin City Council, is a believer in public service. He’s served as a teacher, a school administrator and in public office. He’s held his current position on city council since 2000 and prior to that was on the city planning commission for six years.

Kennedy has seen the growth of Mauldin over the past two decades, and as he seeks re-election, he wants to make sure it continues.

“I remember what Mauldin was like when I first moved here and I’ve seen how it’s grown,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy has worked in all facets of a school and he believes that experience has helped him. There are commonalities in leading a school and working on city council.

“You’re dealing with people in each of those so you have the possibility of conflict and development,” he said.

Since being elected more than a decade ago, Kennedy counts several highlights during his tenure.

Helping the Sports Center become a reality is among them. Kennedy also was quick to cite the Senior Center as a success and praised Kay Hunt, the center’s director.

“She does a fantastic job and everyone there works hard to make it the success it is.”

Kennedy also pointed with pride to beautification projects in an around the cultural center, as well as ongoing efforts to add bike and walking trails.

“They will make our city center a place where people want to be," he said. “We need to continue to implement some of the things we’ve already done.”

The soft-spoken Kennedy believes it is important to keep moving forward.

“Progress and growth goes hand in hand,” he said. “Maintaining the status quo doesn’t help either of those.“

Kennedy’s opponent for Seat 4 is Scott Crosby, who believes that the city ought to privatize the Sports Center. Kennedy thinks that would be a mistake.

“We have always subsidized things for our young people and our seniors,” he said. “It would be an inequity to not do that for the Sports Center. Furthermore, that filled a big need in the community. Everyone I’ve talked to enjoys the Sports Center. They are improving people’s lives there.”

The Sports Center has been a success by most any measure according to Kennedy and is a centerpiece of the city’s future, a future which he has played a significant role in planning.

“I believe if Mauldin is going to continue to grow it’s going to be because of the leadership that is in place right now,” Kennedy said. “We have a good plan in place.”

Election Day is Nov. 8.