Kent Eken
Kent Eken | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2013 | |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 2A district | |
| In office 2003 – January 7, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Rod Skoe (old District 2B) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 12, 1963 |
| Political party | DFL |
| Spouse | Lori |
| Children | Four |
| Residence | Twin Valley, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Concordia College - Moorhead St. Cloud State University |
| Profession | Educator, legislator |
Bernhard Kent Eken (born December 12, 1963) is a Minnesota teacher and politician. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he is a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 4, which includes portions of Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman and Polk counties in the northwestern part of the state.[1]
Eken was previously a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 2A. He was first elected to the House in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He served as an assistant minority leader, and was the DFL Lead on the Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee. He was also a member of the Transportation Policy and Finance and the Ways and Means committees. He was chair of the Environment Policy and Oversight Committee from 2007-2010.[2]
In 2012, Eken ran for the newly created Minnesota Senate District 4 after he was placed in the same district as fellow DFL-er Paul Marquart. Eken defeated retired football player Phil Hansen in the general election, securing over 52% of the vote.[3]
Eken attended Twin Valley High School in Twin Valley, then went on to Concordia College in Moorhead, receiving his B.A. in Political Science and Education. He later attended St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, earning his M.A. in History, which he went on to teach at Saint John's Preparatory School.[4] In addition to his work as a teacher and adjunct college professor, he is also a sugar beets truck driver during the harvest season. Sugar beets are an important local crop, and Minnesota leads the nation in sugar beet production.[1][5]
References
- ^ a b "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Eken, Bernhard Kent". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ "Kent Eken (DFL) 02A - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ Gerdes, Vicki (November 7, 2012). "Eken wins close Senate race". Detroit Lakes Tribune.
- ^ "Project Vote Smart - Representative Kent Eken - Biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ [1][dead link]
External links
- Kent Eken at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
- Rep. Eken Web Page
- Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Rep. Kent Eken
- Project Votesmart - Rep. Kent Eken Profile
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