Jim Kenney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jim Kenney
99th Mayor of Philadelphia
In office January 4, 2016 – January 1, 2024
Preceded by	Michael Nutter
Succeeded by	Cherelle Parker
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
In office January 6, 1992 – January 29, 2015
Preceded by	George Burrell
Personal details
Born	James Francis Kenney (1958-08-07) August 7, 1958 (age 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	La Salle University (BA)

James Francis Kenney, born on August 7, 1958, is an American politician. He served as the 99th mayor of Philadelphia from 2016 to 2024. Kenney was first elected mayor on November 3, 2015. He won by a large margin in the Democratic primary election on May 19, 2015.

Before becoming mayor, Kenney was a member of the Philadelphia City Council for 23 years. He was a Councilman at Large from January 1992 until January 29, 2015. He resigned from the Council to run for mayor. Kenney was re-elected for a second term as mayor on November 5, 2019.

Early Life and Education

Jim Kenney was born on August 7, 1958. He grew up in the Whitman neighborhood of South Philadelphia. His father was a firefighter, and his mother was a homemaker. Both of his parents worked extra jobs. They wanted to send Jim and his four brothers and sisters to private Catholic schools.

In high school, Kenney delivered newspapers and worked as a busboy. He graduated from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in 1976. In 1980, he earned a degree in political science from La Salle University. He was the first person in his family to graduate from college.

City Councilman Jim Kenney in 2009

Serving on Philadelphia City Council

Kenney was first elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1991 when he was 32 years old. During his time on the Council, he held several important roles. He was the Chairman of the Council Committee on Labor and Civil Service. He also served as Vice-Chairman for committees on Rules, Environment, and Law and Government.

..... Instead of arrests, people would pay a fine. Kenney pointed out that arrests for this offense affected African-Americans unfairly. Philadelphia became the largest city in the U.S. to make this change.

While on the City Council, Kenney also worked as a consultant. He served on the Independence Blue Cross board. He was also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He left these jobs when he became mayor in 2015.

Mayor of Philadelphia

Mayoral Elections

The previous Democratic Mayor, Michael Nutter, could not run again. This was because of a rule limiting mayors to two terms. In Philadelphia, there are many more registered Democrats than Republicans. This gives Democratic candidates a big advantage in city elections.

The primary election for mayor was held on May 19, 2015. Kenney won by a large margin, getting 55.83% of the votes. He beat five other Democratic candidates. The Republican candidate, Melissa Murray Bailey, ran unopposed. Kenney won the general election with 85.1% of the vote. He became the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia on January 4, 2016.

Kenney was re-elected as mayor in 2019. He won the Democratic primary on May 21, 2019. He defeated two other candidates with 67% of the vote. On November 5, 2019, Kenney won re-election. He beat Billy Ciancaglini with over 80% of the vote.

First Term (2016–2020)

Education Initiatives

Sugary Drinks Tax

Mayor Kenney proposed a citywide tax on sugary drinks. This tax would add 1.5 cents per ounce to the price of these drinks. The main goal was to raise money for universal pre-kindergarten programs. It was one of the biggest soda tax proposals in the United States at the time.

Kenney believed the tax would raise $400 million over five years. This money would fund pre-K, jobs, and development projects. He also hoped it would encourage people to drink fewer sugary beverages. The idea of a soda tax became a national topic. Some politicians supported it, while others worried it would harm people with lower incomes.

On June 16, 2016, the City Council approved the soda tax with a 13–4 vote. The tax started at the beginning of 2017. After the tax began, some soda companies reported lower sales. They also announced job cuts. The city, however, said the program had created 251 new jobs, mostly for pre-K teachers.

A study in May 2019 showed that sales of taxed drinks in Philadelphia dropped by 51% after the tax. However, sales in nearby areas outside Philadelphia increased. This showed that some people might have bought drinks outside the city.

Local Control of Schools

In October 2017, Mayor Kenney announced that Philadelphia would take back control of its public schools. For sixteen years, the state had managed the schools. Kenney outlined a plan for the city to fully control the Philadelphia School District by July 1, 2018.

Climate Change Efforts

Mayor Kenney has committed Philadelphia to reducing air pollution. The city aims to lower its overall emissions. Specific projects focus on improving public transportation and making buildings more energy-efficient. These areas usually cause most of a city's emissions.

Views on National Politics

Before and after Donald Trump became President in 2016, Kenney spoke out against some of his policies. Kenney stated that Philadelphia would remain a sanctuary city. This meant the city would not fully cooperate with federal immigration efforts, despite threats of losing federal funding.

Kenney joined protests at Philadelphia International Airport after a travel ban was put in place. He also endorsed Elizabeth Warren for president in 2020. After the 2020 election, Kenney publicly urged Donald Trump to accept the election results.

Second Term (2020–2024)

2020 Protests

During the summer of 2020, there were many protests, including those related to the murder of George Floyd. Kenney approved the use of tear gas on protesters who were blocking traffic on Interstate 676.

In response to the protests, Kenney also had the statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo removed from Center City in June 2020.

Personal Life

Jim Kenney has two adult children, Nora and Brendan, with his former wife Maureen. They separated in 2010 and divorced in 2018.

Kenney is engaged to Letitia Santarelli. She was the head coach of the girls' basketball team at Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School. The couple started dating in 2015. Kenney first made their relationship public when Santarelli joined him on a trip to Iceland in 2017. This trip celebrated the first direct flights between Reykjavík and Philadelphia.

Kenney also takes part every year in Philadelphia's Mummers Parade.

See also

• List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
• List of La Salle University people

Images for kids

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  Jim Kenney (left) with then Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (right) in a Philadelphia factory