Education
He was educated at Newry High School, and was an employee of British Telecom for 20 years before being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He was educated at Newry High School, and was an employee of British Telecom for 20 years before being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He was former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Assembly Group and former Minister for Regional Development. Kennedy is married with three children. Steven, Phillip and Hannah.
He ran unsuccessfully for the UUP in the Westminster election in 1997, in which he polled over 18,000 votes against Seamus Mallon.
He was elected to the Assembly in 1998. Kennedy was UUP Assembly spokesman for education and chaired the Assembly Committee which both scrutinised and helped frame education legislation between 1998 and 2002.
On the restoration of devolution in 2007 he became chairman of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. His performance in this office garnered him the award for "Best Committee Chair" from the Slugger O"Toole blogsite in 2008.
Lennon was awarded £150,000 damages.
Kennedy has served at all levels, both local and within the wider party organisation of the Ulster Unionist Party, which he joined in 1974.
Orange Order; 1st Northern Ireland Assembly. 2nd Northern Ireland Assembly. 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly.
4th Northern Ireland Assembly.