Kennedy Makes a Stop in Easton

Joseph Kennedy III (D-Brookline) made a stop in the Shovel Town Saturday morning as part of a seven-town, two day long tour across the southern portion of Congressional District 4.

Kennedy, the former Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, . Since then, he has spent his time campaigning across the region.

Saturday's meet and greet at the was his first stop in Easton.

"It’s been great," he said. "It’s been a great treat to be able to go around and get around the district and see what people are talking about and the concerns in people’s minds. We’ve been able to get around the district quite a bit, that’s why we’re here - to be able to get out and listen a little bit and have some fun."

Kennedy, the grandson of Robert Kennedy and son of Joe Kennedy Jr., has been as a candidate simply running on his name. Saturday, he addressed foreign and domestic policy questions.

Kennedy said he visited Israel last week in an attempt to learn more about the Iran-Israel conflict.

"I think when it comes to Iran we have to make sure that all options are on the table," he said. "I just got back from Israel last week. I was there a week overall. It was kind of an opportunity to learn more about the threat that Iran poses not just to Israel but to the world."

Kennedy also addressed the case involving Easton native DJ Henry, who was shot and killed by a New York police officer in October of 2010. This week, of materials gathered by investigators after the incident. The Henry family is seeking a federal probe into the case and the shooting officer,

Kennedy's campaign stop was less than a mile from the Henry house in Tanglewood Estates.

"I haven’t seen it or read [the materials set to be released]," Kennedy said. "I’ll have to take a look at it. It’s something that after that report is released; if there’s more information on the table we should figure out a way to respond to it appropriately. Obviously, the police department in New York has their version of what happened and we’ll see what comes out in that report to see how much that’s correct."

Kennedy is seeking to take the seat of Barney Frank in Congress, who late last year. He said that if elected, he would have his work cut out for him.

"Look, there’s nobody that can ever dream of replacing Congressman Frank," he said. "He is a legend in his own right and nobody could even think of filling those shoes. I think the opportunity for the campaign is to get out and get around and meet the voters and try over the course of the campaign to earn their respect and their support and that’s what we’re trying to do."

On the democratic side, he faces a wide field of competition including:

• Former Barney Frank challenger Rachel Brown, of North Quincy
• Paul Heroux, of Attleboro
• Marty Farren, of Sharon
• Herb Robinson, of Newton
• Jules Levine, of Brookline

Republican competition includes former Fourth District challenger , who ran against Frank in 2010 and was recently endorsed by Citizens United, and Brookline School Committee member Elizabeth Childs.

Childs was recently endorsed by former acting Gov. Jane Swift, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, former party Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour, and Christine Todd Whitman, a former governor of New Jersey and head of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush.

Kennedy's Easton stop was the first in a weekend tour that included stops in Somerset, Seekonk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Mansfield, and Sharon.