State Rep. Candidate Stephen Kenda's Background Raises Concerns

Before the September Primary, I was dismayed to see campaign pieces circulating in Bedford containing conspiracy theories, divisive language, and fear-based lies. Disappointingly, two of the candidates featured in these campaign pieces are on the ballot for State Representative on November 3rd - Stephen Kenda and Niki Kelsey.

The candidates' supporters attempt to excuse these pieces by stating that they were sent by a PAC. Until a candidate publicly disavows those campaign pieces, I have to assume they stand behind the divisive and conspiracy-laden rhetoric. To date, the candidates have not disavowed them. That is telling.

Checking the backgrounds of the State Representative candidates, I discovered some additional, unsettling information on Stephen Kenda.

Kenda just moved into his Bedford residence this summer from New Hampshire’s Seacoast. Will a new Bedford resident best understand and serve Bedford constituents given his short tenure in our community? We have better-qualified candidates who have devoted years, even decades, to Bedford. What contributions has Kenda made to the Bedford community? None have been indicated.

While living on the Seacoast, Kenda was appointed to - then quickly removed from - a Cancer Cluster Commission by Governor Sununu. Sununu removed Kenda from the commission after just one meeting when Kenda publicly denied the cluster’s existence. “As with any commission, members should be free to express their viewpoints, but it is imperative that they do so with the understanding that they must ultimately work together,” Sununu said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Steve Kenda’s participation in the (commission) has become too much of a distraction, and therefore I have removed him.” (Seacoast Online 10/20/17) Kenda’s denial of the pediatric cancer cluster was debunked by state health officials. Even the governor of his own party felt Kenda was too divisive, hindering the work of the commission.

Bedford deserves State Representatives who have made continuous and measurable commitments to our community and who know Bedford. We deserve State Reps who don’t stoop to using divisive and dishonest language. We deserve candidates that will work well with others. Bedford deserves better representation in Concord than what Stephen Kenda has to offer.