Bernadette Kennedy, April Jackson stress communication, Rosenwald preservation in Bridging the Gap interview

Bernadette Kennedy, a lifelong Wicomico County resident and retired Wicomico Public Library employee, told Bridging the Gap that she is running for County Council District 1 to make sure residents "know what's going on before it hits them." Kennedy said her campaign will prioritize proactive communication, neighborhood outreach and services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Kennedy described the Rosenwald school in San Domingo, noting a community-led restoration coordinated with the John Quentin Foundation and state grants: "The school has been restored... you can visit the school. It's beautiful," she said, framing preservation as part of local history and community identity.

"I wanna be the voice, for the community," Kennedy said, explaining she aims to represent all of District 1 — a largely rural area that reaches the Mason–Dixon line — not only smaller pockets of the district. She told the program she often uses neighborhood visits and social media "lives" to reach residents and cited longstanding grassroots voter-registration work as shaping her approach.

Kennedy criticized a lack of transparency between the county executive and the council, saying leaders should present plans to the full council before public announcements and that more one-on-one meetings across political lines are needed to move issues forward. "Transparency is a vital part... when you don't have true transparency between the mayor and your council, there is a problem," she said.

On practical concerns, Kennedy raised storm readiness for the western part of the county, asking whether salt or utility trucks would be dispatched promptly to neighborhoods that could flood or be cut off: "My first thought on my mind is, okay, am I gonna see a salt truck or any type of utility truck come in my area?" she said.

April Jackson, introduced on the program as vice president of the Salisbury City Council, said the office does not change her approach to serving residents: "I feel no different... I serve the people," she said, adding that listening and regular communication are essential for elected officials. Jackson recounted her family's civil‑rights-era organizing and said voter registration and community engagement have long shaped local political life.

Kennedy said she has seen no county-run town halls in District 1 in recent years and stressed using a mix of outreach tactics — visiting senior developments, holding community events and using online engagement — to reach people who cannot attend council meetings. She also noted accessibility concerns for constituents with disabilities, citing personal family experience.

The interview closed with both guests urging greater visibility and regular communication from elected leaders; Kennedy reiterated her intent to run for the District 1 seat and to prioritize outreach and transparency if elected.