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Posted by Kenny Is Desperate on March 02, 2004 at 12:57:03:

Life's Work of Rebuilding a Family Reputation

By CHRIS HEDGES

Published: March 2, 2004
NEW YORK TIMES

TRENTON

AT the age of 10, with the father he idolized locked away in a federal prison for corruption, State Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr. embarked on a mission that would consume his life - restoring honor to his family name.

"I remember going to school the day he was convicted," he said. "His picture was on the front page of The Jersey Journal. All the others kids talked about it. My mother and I had to go up to the federal prison in Danbury, Conn., over the next year to visit him. We would stay in small hotels in Danbury. It is where I saw the movie "The Spirit of St. Louis."

As the chairman of the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority, his father was convicted of handing work to his former construction firm in exchange for kickbacks. When his father was released, the conviction was rarely discussed. It was only 20 years later, after the senator had dug through the files and read the trial transcripts, that he dared to bring up the sordid event with his father.

"It was devastating for him," said Mr. Kenny, 57, New Jersey's Senate majority leader, seated in his wood-paneled office in the State House. "He was an extraordinarily talented guy, a great athlete, a fine singer, well liked, but the conviction prevented him for being accepted in the places he wanted to be accepted."

The son, who is now turning his attention to Gov. James E. McGreevey's latest state budget, has clearly achieved that acceptance.

It is Senator Kenny, along with a handful of other powerful state Democratic leaders, whom the governor is expected to ask to shepherd a so-called millionaire's tax through the Assembly and the Senate. It is intended to raise property taxes on the state's wealthiest homeowners and lower the burden on others.

The governor, who announced his budget but has yet to formally endorse a campaign for the tax, hopes that the tax will provide about $750 million in property tax relief from the $17 billion levy raised through property taxes by local governments. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

The senator speaks slowly and with a soft affability. He is known as a patient, methodical leader, who last year was named by New Jersey Monthly magazine as the politician "most trusted by fellow legislators." The word trust was not lost on him.

His experience with his father does not seem to have left vestiges of bitterness, perhaps because the name has been resurrected. He said he knew early on in life that he had to "confront these demons." This is what drove him into the public arena.

He went to law school. When he graduated he applied for a job in the Hudson County prosecutor's office, an office that had thick files on his father and other powerful politicians bearing the Kenny name.

He sat in the office, facing James O'Halloran, the county prosecutor, who later became a Superior Court judge.

"I know I am a Kenny," he remembers telling Mr. O'Halloran, "and there are a number of files in this office with the Kenny name on them. But I would appreciate an opportunity to work here.''

His voice dips as he remembers the response.

"Is this your résumé or your father's?" he was asked, followed by the words, "You are hired."

"He gave me a chance," Mr. Kenny said. "He cared. I have always tried to do for others what he did for me in my own life."

When Mr. Kenny was sworn in to the General Assembly in 1988, his father, ill with cancer, watched from the balcony. The ravages of the disease were so severe that his father had to be driven to and from the ceremony.

"I told him afterwards, I did this for you," Senator Kenny said. "He said, 'I know.' "

Two months later his father was dead.

"This is why I am here, for the vindication of my family," he said. "It was all about being employed by the government, about being accepted. I have my father's name."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the senator says it is the individual that fascinates him, the figure who can rise above the throngs and make a difference. His father, he said, had this ability. He admires Abraham Lincoln and is known to quote from Lincoln's second inaugural address.

I AM fascinated by those individuals who can make a difference in history," he said. "If it were not for Lincoln we might not be the country we are today. We might be three or four countries. Individuals in all walks of life can make a profound difference in families or communities. It is the individual; ultimately, that is the driving force in history."

Senator Kenny and his wife, Roberta, a schoolteacher, have three children and have lived in Hoboken for 30 years. It is not the life his mother had encouraged him to build when he went to law school.

"She told me to move to Summit and get a job in the suburbs," he joked.

But he was in pursuit of another goal. And as he walks the hall of the State House, his colleagues see one Bernard F. Kenny, while he sees two.

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: Life's Work of Rebuilding a Family Reputation
:
: By CHRIS HEDGES

: Published: March 2, 2004
: NEW YORK TIMES

: TRENTON

: AT the age of 10, with the father he idolized locked away in a federal prison for corruption, State Senator Bernard F. Kenny Jr. embarked on a mission that would consume his life - restoring honor to his family name.

: "I remember going to school the day he was convicted," he said. "His picture was on the front page of The Jersey Journal. All the others kids talked about it. My mother and I had to go up to the federal prison in Danbury, Conn., over the next year to visit him. We would stay in small hotels in Danbury. It is where I saw the movie "The Spirit of St. Louis."

: As the chairman of the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority, his father was convicted of handing work to his former construction firm in exchange for kickbacks. When his father was released, the conviction was rarely discussed. It was only 20 years later, after the senator had dug through the files and read the trial transcripts, that he dared to bring up the sordid event with his father.

: "It was devastating for him," said Mr. Kenny, 57, New Jersey's Senate majority leader, seated in his wood-paneled office in the State House. "He was an extraordinarily talented guy, a great athlete, a fine singer, well liked, but the conviction prevented him for being accepted in the places he wanted to be accepted."

: The son, who is now turning his attention to Gov. James E. McGreevey's latest state budget, has clearly achieved that acceptance.

: It is Senator Kenny, along with a handful of other powerful state Democratic leaders, whom the governor is expected to ask to shepherd a so-called millionaire's tax through the Assembly and the Senate. It is intended to raise property taxes on the state's wealthiest homeowners and lower the burden on others.

: The governor, who announced his budget but has yet to formally endorse a campaign for the tax, hopes that the tax will provide about $750 million in property tax relief from the $17 billion levy raised through property taxes by local governments. New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

: The senator speaks slowly and with a soft affability. He is known as a patient, methodical leader, who last year was named by New Jersey Monthly magazine as the politician "most trusted by fellow legislators." The word trust was not lost on him.

: His experience with his father does not seem to have left vestiges of bitterness, perhaps because the name has been resurrected. He said he knew early on in life that he had to "confront these demons." This is what drove him into the public arena.

: He went to law school. When he graduated he applied for a job in the Hudson County prosecutor's office, an office that had thick files on his father and other powerful politicians bearing the Kenny name.

: He sat in the office, facing James O'Halloran, the county prosecutor, who later became a Superior Court judge.

: "I know I am a Kenny," he remembers telling Mr. O'Halloran, "and there are a number of files in this office with the Kenny name on them. But I would appreciate an opportunity to work here.''

: His voice dips as he remembers the response.

: "Is this your résumé or your father's?" he was asked, followed by the words, "You are hired."

: "He gave me a chance," Mr. Kenny said. "He cared. I have always tried to do for others what he did for me in my own life."

: When Mr. Kenny was sworn in to the General Assembly in 1988, his father, ill with cancer, watched from the balcony. The ravages of the disease were so severe that his father had to be driven to and from the ceremony.

: "I told him afterwards, I did this for you," Senator Kenny said. "He said, 'I know.' "

: Two months later his father was dead.

: "This is why I am here, for the vindication of my family," he said. "It was all about being employed by the government, about being accepted. I have my father's name."

: Perhaps not surprisingly, the senator says it is the individual that fascinates him, the figure who can rise above the throngs and make a difference. His father, he said, had this ability. He admires Abraham Lincoln and is known to quote from Lincoln's second inaugural address.

: I AM fascinated by those individuals who can make a difference in history," he said. "If it were not for Lincoln we might not be the country we are today. We might be three or four countries. Individuals in all walks of life can make a profound difference in families or communities. It is the individual; ultimately, that is the driving force in history."

: Senator Kenny and his wife, Roberta, a schoolteacher, have three children and have lived in Hoboken for 30 years. It is not the life his mother had encouraged him to build when he went to law school.

: "She told me to move to Summit and get a job in the suburbs," he joked.

: But he was in pursuit of another goal. And as he walks the hall of the State House, his colleagues see one Bernard F. Kenny, while he sees two.

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