Kenneth Dunkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenneth Dunkin
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| Member of the MWRDGC Board of Commissioners | |
| In office May 2018 – December 2018 |
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| Appointed by | Bruce Rauner |
| Preceded by | Timothy Bradford |
| Succeeded by | Cameron Davis |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 5th district |
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| In office December 2002 – January 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Lovana Jones |
| Succeeded by | Juliana Stratton |
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| Born | February 12, 1966 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago Morehouse College |
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Kenneth Dunkin (born February 12, 1966) is an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Mr. Dunkin served in the Illinois House of Representatives for many years. He represented the 5th District from December 2002 to January 2017. Later, he was appointed to the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. He served in this role from May 2018 to December 2018.
Early Life and Education
Kenneth Dunkin was born on February 12, 1966, in Chicago. He grew up in the Cabrini–Green housing project. This was a neighborhood on the city's Near-north side.
After high school, he earned an associate degree from Loop College. This school is now known as Harold Washington College. He then went to Morehouse College. There, he earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science. Later, he received his master's degree in social welfare. He studied at the University of Chicago.
As a young person, Mr. Dunkin was inspired by Jesse White. Mr. White is an Illinois politician. He also started the famous Jesse White Tumbling Team.
Public Service Career
Mr. Dunkin worked as a social worker for many years. He was the Director of the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club in Chicago. In this role, he managed many important programs.
He also worked as a consultant for the City of Chicago. He helped the Department of Health and the Department on Aging. He gained experience by interning with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also interned with former United States Senator Paul Simon.
Today, Mr. Dunkin is a member of several groups. These include the Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission. He is also on the Board of the Chicago International Film Festival. He is a member of the Lawson YMCA and Near North Health Services Corp. He belongs to the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He is also part of the Governor's Film Task Force.
Time as State Representative
As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Mr. Dunkin worked on seven committees. These included International Trade & Commerce and Financial Institutions. He also served on committees for Insurance, Mass Transit, and Telecommunications. He was the Chairman of Tourism and Conventions.
Mr. Dunkin was also a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. He was the main supporter of the Illinois Film Tax Credit. This law helped create many jobs in the state. It also brought in millions of dollars in tax money. This credit encouraged many major films and TV shows to be filmed in Illinois. Some examples include "The Beast," "Public Enemy," and "Transformers 3."
Mr. Dunkin served as a State Lawmaker for over 15 years. He became an important member of the Illinois House. He sometimes took different positions from other Democrats. This meant he often had to defend his choices.
In 2013, Representative Dunkin voted for a plan. This plan changed state employee pension benefits. The Illinois Supreme Court later found these changes to be against the law.
Later, Mr. Dunkin did not vote on an important bill. This bill would have allowed an arbitrator to help solve disputes. These disputes were between public sector unions and the governor. His absence meant the bill did not pass.
In November 2015, Representative Dunkin again did not vote on a key bill. This bill was about child care assistance. House Democrats needed one more vote to pass it. Mr. Dunkin's decision not to vote caused tension.
Other politicians expressed their disappointment. One state representative, Jaime Andrade, even moved Mr. Dunkin's nameplate. He placed it on the Republican side of the chamber. This showed how upset some Democrats were.
Many important Democrats supported Juliana Stratton. She was Mr. Dunkin's opponent in the next election. His former mentor, Jesse White, also supported Stratton. White said Mr. Dunkin had been a "big disappointment."
In March 2016, Juliana Stratton announced that the President of the United States supported her. This happened after Mr. Dunkin had claimed the President supported his decisions. When President Obama spoke to the Illinois General Assembly, he talked about working with both parties. Mr. Dunkin shouted "Yes!" and Obama jokingly replied, "Sit down Dunkin, we'll talk later."
On March 15, 2016, Juliana Stratton defeated Ken Dunkin in the election. This was reported by WGN News.
