County prosecutor seeking re-election

Van Wert independent/contributor content

Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney Charles Kennedy has filed nominating petitions as a Republican for re-election to the January 2013 term as prosecuting attorney.

Kennedy, a life-long resident of Van Wert and son of the late Edward and LuVerne Kennedy, is a 1966 graduate of Van Wert High School and was engaged in private law practice in Van Wert from 1979 to June 2009, when he retired to become a full-time prosecutor.

Kennedy has been the Van Wert County prosecuting attorney since 1989. In addition, he has served on various boards and committees throughout his career, including the Peoples Bank & Trust Company/Wells Fargo Bank Board of Directors.

A June 1970 graduate of Bowling Green State University, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in history and political science. Upon graduation, Kennedy was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., where he was trained as an infantry officer and in the Ranger, Airborne (parachute) and Jumpmaster schools.

During 1972, he was assigned as a platoon leader to the 7th U.S. Cavalry in Vietnam, the last American ground combat unit in Vietnam, and also spent five months as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. He received a Bronze Star as a result of his service in Vietnam, as well as the Combat Infantry Badge. Kennedy later joined the U.S. Army Reserve as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was recalled to active duty during “Operation Desert Storm”. Kennedy’s assignments as a legal officer have taken him back to Fort Benning and have included assignments to Panama, Korea and Italy. Kennedy retired from the Army Reserve in January of 2006 with the rank of Colonel.

In December 1975, Kennedy received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he majored in politics and public policy. Upon resigning his Regular Army commission in 1976, Kennedy entered law school at Ohio Northern University. During law school, Kennedy was chosen a member of the Law Review, the school’s legal publication, and served as one of its editors.

On the community level, Kennedy is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Elks Lodge 1197, American Legion Post 178, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803. He is a past member of the former Kiwanis Club, which he served as president, and Van Wert Rotary Club. He is also a member of the Van Wert County, Ohio and American Bar Associations.

Kennedy has been married for 44 years to the former Janie Elder, daughter of Jean Elder Weaver and the late Hugh Elder, a farmer and former Pleasant Township trustee. They have three children, Jill Groves, a customer service representative with Parker Hannifin in New Haven, Ind., Tyson, who owns and operates his own landscaping company near Delaware, and Mike, who is a civilian consultant to various entities doing business with the Department of the Army at Fort Benning. They also have seven grandchildren.