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. Dunkin served in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 5th District from 2002 to 2017. He was also appointed to the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in 2018.
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Kenneth Dunkin's Early Life
Kenneth Dunkin was born on February 12, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Cabrini–Green housing project. After finishing Lincoln Park High School in 1984, he went to Loop College, which is now Harold Washington College.
He then earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Morehouse College. Later, he received his master's degree in social welfare from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. When he was young, Dunkin was inspired by Jesse White, a well-known Illinois politician.
Kenneth Dunkin's Public Service Work
Before becoming a politician, Kenneth Dunkin worked as a social worker for many years. He was the Director of the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. There, he managed important programs for young people.
He also worked as a consultant for the City of Chicago's Department of Health and Department on Aging. He gained experience by interning with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with United States Senator Paul Simon.
Today, Dunkin is a member of several important groups. These include the Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission, the Board of the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Lawson YMCA. He is also part of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the Governor's Film Task Force.
Kenneth Dunkin as a State Representative
As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Kenneth Dunkin worked on many important issues. He served on seven different committees. These committees focused on topics like trade, banking, insurance, and public transportation. He was also the Chairman of the Tourism and Conventions committee.
Dunkin was 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 and brought a lot of money to Illinois. It encouraged major movies and TV shows, like "Batman-The Dark Knight" and "Transformers 3," to film in the state.
Challenges and Disagreements
Kenneth Dunkin served as a state lawmaker for over 15 years. During his time, he sometimes disagreed with other members of his own Democratic party. He often chose to stand up for his own views, even when others did not agree with him.
In 2013, Representative Dunkin voted for a plan that changed state employee pension plans. Later, he did not vote on an important bill that would have affected how the state government worked with unions. When asked about his absence, he said he was out of town and that the bill "meant nothing to the average person."
In 2015, Dunkin again voted differently from his Democratic party on a bill about child care assistance. This bill was very important to his party, but it failed by just one vote because Dunkin did not vote. Many Democrats were upset with his decision.
Facing Opposition
Because of his votes and disagreements, Kenneth Dunkin faced challenges from within his own party. The Illinois AFL-CIO, a large group of labor unions, supported his opponent, Juliana Stratton, in the 2016 election. They said that Dunkin's votes went against the interests of working families.
Even his mentor, Jesse White, publicly supported Stratton. White said that Dunkin had been a "big disappointment" to his constituents and the people of Illinois.
During the 2016 primary election, President Barack Obama, who was from Illinois, made a comment about Dunkin. When Obama was speaking to the Illinois General Assembly, Dunkin shouted "Yes!" after Obama said that reaching political compromise "doesn't make me a sellout to my own party." Obama playfully replied, "Sit down Dunkin, we'll talk later."
In the end, Democratic challenger Juliana Stratton defeated Ken Dunkin in the March 2016 election.
