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Eken, Kent

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2012 (District 2A); Senate 2013-2022 (District 4)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Becker, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 12/12/1963

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Twin Valley

Occupation (when first elected): High School Social Studies and Economics Teacher; Saint John's Preparatory School, Collegeville

EDUCATION

Twin Valley High School; Secondary;
Concordia College, Moorhead; B.A.; Political Science and Education
St. Cloud State University; M.A.; History

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Clean Water Council; 09/2011 to 20?? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Lori
Children: Four children: Kara, Samuel, Amber, and Adam
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Willis Roy Eken - Father

GENERAL NOTES

He's a licensed airplane pilot.

His full name is Bernhard Kent Eken.

He announced he would not seek reelection in 2022.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 7301

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 04

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023

Counties Represented: Becker, Clay, Norman

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 04

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021

Counties Represented: Becker, Clay, Norman

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored:     2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
   2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
   2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
   2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
   2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
Capital Investment
Family Care and Aging

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 04

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021

Counties Represented: Becker, Clay, Norman

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
Capital Investment

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 04

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017

Counties Represented: Becker, Clay, Norman

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Elections

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 04

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017

Counties Represented: Becker, Clay, Norman

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: Health and Human Services Division
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development
Rules and Administration: Elections

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 02A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013

Counties Represented: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

Occupation: Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Minutes
Transportation Policy and Finance Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 02A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011

Counties Represented: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

Occupation: Educator, Political Science and History, Community Colleges/Truck Driver, Sugar Beets

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Minutes
Environment Policy and Oversight (Chair) Minutes
Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 02A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009

Counties Represented: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

Occupation: Educator; Adjunct College Professor/Truck Driver, Sugar Beets

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair) Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 02A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006

Counties Represented: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

Occupation: Teacher

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Finance Minutes
Education Policy and Reform Minutes
Health Policy and Finance Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 02A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Twin Valley

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005

Counties Represented: Becker, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

Occupation: High School Social Studies and Economics Teacher; Saint John's Preparatory School, Collegeville

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Policy Minutes
Education Finance Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

District Files

2003 (02A)

2004 (02A)

2005 (02A)

2006 (02A)

2007 (02A)

2008 (02A)

2009 (02A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

Photographs

Kent Eken and Omar Fateh on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 5/4/2022. Kent Eken and Omar Fateh discuss senate business prior to the strart of a floor session. Kent Eken is a Democrat from Audubon and Omar Fateh is a Democrat from Minneapolis. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

Dan Sparks and Kent Eken on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/24/2017. Dan Sparks and Kent Eken discuss legislation on the Senate Floor. Dan Sparks is a Democrat from Austin and Kent Eken is a Democrat from Twin Valley. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

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