Ken Bennett
Encyclopedia
Ken Bennett is a Republican
politician and businessman who served as president of the Arizona Senate
, and is currently serving as the Secretary of State of Arizona
.
into a family that were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon
). He later moved to Prescott, Arizona
, where he attended Prescott High School and Yavapai College
. Between terms there he served a two-year mission
in southern Japan
. In 1981 he transferred to Arizona State University
and graduated with a degree in accounting.
In 1989, several underground petroleum storage tanks owned by Bennett's Oil Co. released petroleum into the environment. In the years following, Bennett's undertook various remedies to decontaminate the area, paid for by its insurance company. Bennett's insurer, Federated Mutual Insurance, submitted five separate applications to the state for periodic reimbursement of the cleanup costs. The first four were approved, but the last was denied under a recently enacted act limiting reimbursement to costs not covered by insurance. Bennett's appealed the denial in court, arguing that the law was intended only to prevent double recovery, not to limit the state to providing only secondary insurance. The court affirmed the state's interpretation of the law and denied reimbursement.
This later came to prominence when as a state senator (see below), Bennett co-sponsored a bill in 2004 which would provide reimbursement for oil company cleanup costs already covered under private insurance. Some accused Bennett of a conflict of interest, given that his own company would benefit from this change. The bill never made it out of committee and did not become law.
s, which he opposes.http://www.allbusiness.com/public-administration/executive-legislative-other-general/360729-1.html He abandoned a run for governor in 2006, but has said that he will run for statewide or federal office in the future.
ascended from Arizona Secretary of State to Governor upon Janet Napolitano
's resignation to become United States Secretary of Homeland Security
, Brewer chose Bennett to be the new Secretary of State. Normally, the Secretary of State is ordinarily first in line to succeed the Governor should she have resigned, become removed from office, or become permanently disabled from being able to discharge her duties. However, as Bennett was not elected as Secretary of State, then-Attorney General Terry Goddard
would have become first in line to succeed Brewer. Bennett was sworn in as Secretary of State
on January 26.
Award from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Building on his interest in and understanding of the state's history, Mr. Bennett has been a leader in bringing attention and support to Arizona's historical and cultural institutions. The award recognizes Bennett for his unfailing support of the State Library's mission to preserve Arizona's history and to provide access to information.
Bennett has demonstrated commitment to the value of cultural institutions and the role they play in helping Arizona's citizens live their lives, work their jobs, and understand their history. Announced annually on Arizona Statehood Day, February 14, the Polly Rosenbaum Award connotes elected or appointed officials who cherish Arizona's rich cultural resources and support the work of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
involving Ken's son, Clifton, became controversial after several parents of victims accused Ken of exerting undue influence to affect the case. In what a county attorney described as a summer camp "hazing ritual" gone wrong, Clifton and another man poked 17 clothed campers in the buttocks using a broom stick. Ultimately Clifton, –only 17 years old and a minor, plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault. Clifton was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years probation. Arizona Attorney General
Terry Goddard
, said he "had questions about the handling of the case," but that his office had no authority to intervene. Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk defended the plea bargain and accused the news media
of misrepresenting the issue.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician and businessman who served as president of the Arizona Senate
Arizona Senate
The Arizona Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members representing an equal amount of constituencies across the state, with each district having average populations of 219,859 . Members serve two-year terms with...
, and is currently serving as the Secretary of State of Arizona
Secretary of State of Arizona
The Secretary of State of Arizona is an elected position in the U.S. state of Arizona. Since Arizona has no lieutenant governor, the Secretary stands first in the line of succession to the governorship. The Secretary also serves as acting governor whenever the governor is incapacitated or out of...
.
Biography
Bennett was born in TucsonTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
into a family that were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
). He later moved to Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, where he attended Prescott High School and Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Yavapai College is a community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main Campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona.-History:...
. Between terms there he served a two-year mission
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in southern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In 1981 he transferred to Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and graduated with a degree in accounting.
Business career
In 2008, Bennett was named Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of GeoBio Energy, a company attempting to develop and market alternative fuel from plant sources such as algae. Bennett served as CEO of his family fuel distribution business, Bennett's Oil Co., from 1985 to 2006.In 1989, several underground petroleum storage tanks owned by Bennett's Oil Co. released petroleum into the environment. In the years following, Bennett's undertook various remedies to decontaminate the area, paid for by its insurance company. Bennett's insurer, Federated Mutual Insurance, submitted five separate applications to the state for periodic reimbursement of the cleanup costs. The first four were approved, but the last was denied under a recently enacted act limiting reimbursement to costs not covered by insurance. Bennett's appealed the denial in court, arguing that the law was intended only to prevent double recovery, not to limit the state to providing only secondary insurance. The court affirmed the state's interpretation of the law and denied reimbursement.
This later came to prominence when as a state senator (see below), Bennett co-sponsored a bill in 2004 which would provide reimbursement for oil company cleanup costs already covered under private insurance. Some accused Bennett of a conflict of interest, given that his own company would benefit from this change. The bill never made it out of committee and did not become law.
Prescott City Council
Bennett was elected to the Prescott City Council in 1985 and served one term and during that term he was Mayor Pro Tem in 1988.State Board of Education
He was appointed to the Arizona State Board of Education in 1992, serving as president in 1996 and 1998.Arizona Senate
In 1998 he was elected to the Arizona State Senate, where he served as Chairman of the Education Committee for two years and President of the Senate for four years (2003–2007). After eight years in the State Senate, he was prevented from seeking re-election in 2006 because of term limitTerm limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s, which he opposes.http://www.allbusiness.com/public-administration/executive-legislative-other-general/360729-1.html He abandoned a run for governor in 2006, but has said that he will run for statewide or federal office in the future.
Secretary of State
When Jan BrewerJan Brewer
Janice Kay "Jan" Brewer is the 22nd and current Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona and a member of the Republican Party. She is the fourth woman, and third consecutive woman, to hold the office...
ascended from Arizona Secretary of State to Governor upon Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
's resignation to become United States Secretary of Homeland Security
United States Secretary of Homeland Security
The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position was created by the...
, Brewer chose Bennett to be the new Secretary of State. Normally, the Secretary of State is ordinarily first in line to succeed the Governor should she have resigned, become removed from office, or become permanently disabled from being able to discharge her duties. However, as Bennett was not elected as Secretary of State, then-Attorney General Terry Goddard
Terry Goddard
Samuel Pearson "Terry" Goddard III was the Attorney General of Arizona, from 2003 to 2011, who also served as Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona from 1984 to 1990....
would have become first in line to succeed Brewer. Bennett was sworn in as Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
on January 26.
2010 election
Bennett won election to a full term as Secretary of State in the November 2010, defeating his Democratic opponent Chris Deschene with 59% of the vote. Bennett was sworn in for a full term on January 3, 2011, at this point becoming the first in line to succeed Brewer (who had also been elected to a full term) to the governorship.Awards
In 2007 Ken Bennett received the Polly RosenbaumPolly Rosenbaum
Edwynne Cutler "Polly" Rosenbaum was a teacher and politician who was Arizona's longest-serving state legislator, representing Gila County in the Arizona House of Representatives for 45 years....
Award from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Building on his interest in and understanding of the state's history, Mr. Bennett has been a leader in bringing attention and support to Arizona's historical and cultural institutions. The award recognizes Bennett for his unfailing support of the State Library's mission to preserve Arizona's history and to provide access to information.
Bennett has demonstrated commitment to the value of cultural institutions and the role they play in helping Arizona's citizens live their lives, work their jobs, and understand their history. Announced annually on Arizona Statehood Day, February 14, the Polly Rosenbaum Award connotes elected or appointed officials who cherish Arizona's rich cultural resources and support the work of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Family incident
A 2006 plea bargainPlea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
involving Ken's son, Clifton, became controversial after several parents of victims accused Ken of exerting undue influence to affect the case. In what a county attorney described as a summer camp "hazing ritual" gone wrong, Clifton and another man poked 17 clothed campers in the buttocks using a broom stick. Ultimately Clifton, –only 17 years old and a minor, plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault. Clifton was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years probation. Arizona Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Terry Goddard
Terry Goddard
Samuel Pearson "Terry" Goddard III was the Attorney General of Arizona, from 2003 to 2011, who also served as Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona from 1984 to 1990....
, said he "had questions about the handling of the case," but that his office had no authority to intervene. Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk defended the plea bargain and accused the news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
of misrepresenting the issue.