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Kent Eken

Kent Eken
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 4th district
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 4, 2023
Preceded byredrawn district
Succeeded byRob Kupec
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 2A district
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byredrawn district
Succeeded bydistrict redrawn
Personal details
Born (1963-12-12) December 12, 1963 (age 60)
Political partyDemocratic–Farmer–Labor
SpouseLori
Children4
ResidenceTwin Valley, Minnesota
Alma materConcordia College - Moorhead
St. Cloud State University
ProfessionEducator, legislator

Bernhard Kent Eken (/ˈiːkɪn/ EEK-in; born December 12, 1963) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 4, which includes portions of Becker, Clay, and Norman counties in the northwestern part of the state.[1]

Early life, education, and career

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, after which he taught at Saint John's Preparatory School.[2] In addition to his work as a teacher and adjunct college professor, he is a sugar beets truck driver during the harvest season. His father was Willis Eken, who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.[1]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Eken was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 2A, in 2002, and reelected 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 to 2010.[3]

Minnesota Senate

In 2012, Eken ran for the newly created District 4 after he was placed in the same district as fellow DFLer Paul Marquart. Eken defeated retired football player Phil Hansen in the general election, with over 52% of the vote.[4] He was reelected in 2016 with just over 55% of the vote. In 2020, Eken was reelected with just over 54% of the vote. After his reelection, he was named a Minority Whip.[5]

Eken served on the following committees:

  • Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance and Policy
  • Ranking Minority Member Family Care and Aging

He decided not to run for reelection in 2022, and was replaced by Rob Kupec.

References

  1. ^ a b "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Eken, Bernhard Kent". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. ^ "Project Vote Smart - Representative Kent Eken - Biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. ^ "Kent Eken (DFL) 02A - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. ^ Gerdes, Vicki (November 7, 2012). "Eken wins close Senate race". Detroit Lakes Tribune.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Kent Eken". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
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