Editorial for January 17, 2008 edition:


Bye George

Through the course of history, a number of guys named George have nobly served the public. George Washington. George Patton. George Marshall. George Mitchell. George H.W. Bush. George W. Bush.
And then there’s George T. Kenney Jr.
The veteran state lawmaker’s announcement Monday that he will not run for re-election when his term ends at the end of this year came as no great surprise to many political observers. After all, he tried to retire two years ago, but the Northeast’s infamous House speaker at the time, John Perzel, wouldn’t let him. He somehow talked Mr. Kenney into running again.
This time around, George Kenney is doing what’s best for himself and his family, and nobody can really blame him for stepping down.
Taxpayers could have and should have punished Mr. Kenney and other state lawmakers who voted for their illegal pay raise in 2005 by voting them out of office in 2006, but the fact is that Mr. Kenney beat his bright, young Democratic challenger Brendan Boyle.
Aside from his pay-raise vote, Mr. Kenney is an all-around nice, decent family man who has earned the right to rest on his laurels — a record of fighting for the lifesaving red-light cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, limitations on reuse of the Byberry hospital site, strong constituent service and popularity with Democrats and Republicans alike.
Soon, Mr. Kenney will again be able to wake up every morning, smell the roses, relax, enjoy his wife and five kids seven days a week — and not spend half the week away from them, doing the people’s business in Harrisburg — and, of course, make tons of money in the private sector.
Hang in there, George. In less than a year, your life will return to normal. You deserve it. ••

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