By Josh Resnek
In the midst of a political campaign to unseat Senator Ed Markey, and only days before their first televised debate, Congressman Joe Kennedy came to Everett over the weekend.
Accompanied by Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien, he toured several local businesses. He spoke in fluent Spanish to the employees and owners of the local travel agency, Tivari Travels.
He visited the Creole restaurant on Main Street.
He then met with members of the local Haitian community at the Haitian Community Center.
Kennedy’s visit followed a successful tour of the city by Markey two weeks ago led by Adrien.
“He is a very impressive young congressman,” Adrien told the Leader Herald.
“The people of our city and of Massachusetts have an important and interesting choice to make in September,” she added.
Adrien, and Councilors Mike McLaughlin, Fred Capone and Stephanie Martins joined with Kennedy at the Haitian Community Center.
He spoke in front of a small crowd of about 50 men, women and children.
Markey is fighting for his political life in a battle that will likely end with him or Kennedy winning the Democratic Primary in September, and by default, the coveted senate seat.
Adrien was the catalyst for Kennedy’s appearance here.
Kennedy is the son of former Congressman Joe Kennedy, and the grandson of the legendary late Senator Robert Kennedy.
By all accounts, he made an impressive splash here
He carries that distinctive Kennedy look. He’s tall. He’s fit. He’s good looking and Harvard educated. He is articulate and like Kennedys of old, he aspires to higher public office.
His announcement some months back that he would be running against Markey, perhaps the most liberal member of the senate, caused many eyebrows to be raised locally.
Beating a Kennedy in Massachusetts has proven to be a near impossibility.
It set off a difficult fight for Markey, who has represented Everett in the Senate for the past eight years, and who has served in Congress for 40 years. Kennedy is a much younger man than Markey.
Kennedy is in his 30’s. Markey is in his 70’s. However, both men keep very active schedules. Both Markey and Kennedy are outspoken about their belief that President Donald Trump should have been impeached and is not fit to be the American president.
In meeting with local businessmen, Kennedy learned that there are only eight black owned businesses in Everett, a number far out of sync with the city’s multi-cultural make-up.
“This inequality must be addressed,” he said. “How can this be?” he asked.
Kennedy is also far left of center liberal like Markey, with very few differences shared by both politicians in their approach to their duties and national policies.
Kennedy made a positive impression here.