Kennedy, Damien

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State House
District:
21
Political Affiliation:
Republican
Phone:
(520) 245-9453
Age:
46
Occupation:
Consultant
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Biographical Info:

My wife and I moved from Missouri over 16 years ago. I have a son and a daughter who have all just recently moved out on their own. I have worked as a photographer and a graphic designer with a splash of insurance mixed in. I took on the role of compliance manager within the agricultural field because they needed knowledgeable and strong analytical skills to keep the public safe from a growing industry.

Working in the medical cannabis industry let me to work with legislators and regulators across many boards to craft rules for testing and safety spread over many divisions. Working a number of issues to keep public safety and community standards as number one with local supervisors and school program coordinators to maintain public trust, knowledge and zoning guidelines.

I am blue collar through and through, from my grandfathers butcher and farmer roots to my father’s union electrician career, I learned what it meant to work hard and complete the work you are asked to do. As your next representative I will bring these work ethics with me as your voice in Phoenix, being that strong, loud, voice Southern Arizona needs. Thank you for your support.

Statement:

As redistricting completed I saw the same people lining up to represent my legislative district. Those people continued saying the same thing they have always said to win. The difference was I saw it was not resonating with the voters in my area anymore or the new voters brought in by redistricting.
With no option besides the left turning in signatures to be on the ballot I decided to turn in paperwork to be a write in and set out to inform the people of options. I got what I needed to be on the general ballot and will continue to work for my district.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Expanding background checks to include guns purchased from private individuals. -
2. Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. O* I believe all of the above are already listed under "race", "religion", "age", "sex" and "ancestry". We do not need to add more details to things to allow our politicians to prove they are "trying".
3. Prohibiting abortion except when it is necessary to prevent the death of the mother. -* I do not believe we should be legislating morality. If an abortion bill crosses my desk, if it is anything other than maintaining the publics option to make their own moral decision. I will vote against it. I do not believe my morals supersedes the morals of the voting public I wish to represent.
4. Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports teams. O* Creating a league that will allow this type of competition is more appropriate than allowing transgenders to compete in pure gender sports.
5. Providing state funding to abortion entities that perform or refer for abortion. O* I believe this would fall in with Question 3.
6. Allowing all parents to use tax credits, vouchers, or education savings accounts to enable their children to attend any public, charter, private, homeschool, or online academy. S* If a parent feels the school their child is attending is not doing the job that is best for that student, parents should have the ability to take their money and childs education some where that they feel will address their needs.
7. Legalizing physician-assisted suicide. -* Jack Kevorkian championed this in the early 2000's and I believe it to have died along with him in 2011. I am not saying I oppose the process, but a blanket legalization will not happen with me as LD21's Representative.
8. Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues. -* I did not know, personally, parents seeking professional counseling for this were being denied. I do not feel it is governments job to force private insurances to pay for, or counselors to see, same-sex attraction or gender identity issue individuals.
9. Protecting individuals and businesses from being required to provide services or use their artistic expression in a manner that violates their moral or religious beliefs. S
10. Keeping the flat income tax rate in Arizona’s state tax code. S* A flat tax should be expanded to the federal level with the limiting of the IRS.
11. Requiring any government entity, including schools, to inform parents about their child’s physical, emotional, or mental health. O* The government should not be getting into the industry of mental health treatment. There are people who go to school for years that will be a million times better at diagnosing and informing parents than a school or any government entity.
12. Establishing electric retail competition to eliminate the current monopoly system for electric utilities. -* I would need to gain a lot more knowledge on this issue to comprehensively support or oppose.