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Ken Bennett
| Ken Bennett | ||
 | ||
| Arizona Secretary of State | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2009 - present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 5, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 4 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Predecessor | Jan Brewer (R) | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $70,000 | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| First elected | November 2, 2010 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Appointed | January 9, 2009 | |
| Appointed by | Gov. Jan Brewer | |
| Term limits | 2 consecutive terms | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Arizona State Senate | ||
| 2000-2007 | ||
| Education | ||
| High school | Prescott High School (1977) | |
| Bachelor's | Arizona State University (1984) | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | August 1, 1959 | |
| Place of birth | Tucson, Arizona | |
| Religion | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
Biography
Bennett is a lifelong Arizona resident, with the exception of serving a couple years as a missionary in Southern Japan before University. He was born in Tucson, grew up in Prescott, and attended Arizona State University in Tempe, where he earned his degree in accounting. After graduating from college in 1984, the future Secretary of State of Arizona began his 25-years-and-counting career of mingled public service and private business. Prior to entering politics, Bennett was CEO of Bennett Oil Company, a family fuel-distribution business (he is still member of its board of directors), served on the Prescott Economic Development Comm. Board of Directors, in addition to several other roles demonstrating his activeness within the community, including:
- Coach, Prescott Little League and AYSO Soccer (1989-1995)
- Director, Prescott Chamber of Commerce (1991-1993)
- Scout Master, Volunteer, Boy Scouts of America (1993-1998)
- Former Director, Education Leaders Council (1995-present)
- Board Member, Western Regional Medical Center, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (present)
Bennett was also the 2007 recipient of the Polly Rosenbaum Award from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records for his "support of the State Library's mission to preserve Arizona's history and to provide access to information on the state."[3]
Education
- Prescott High School (1977)
- Attended Yavapai College (1981 President’s Scholarship)
- B.S., Arizona State University (1984) in accounting
Political career
Bennett began his political career as a member of the Prescott City Council. He was elected in 1985 and served for four years. He was named mayor pro-tempore in 1988. Then from 1994 to 1996, he served as a member of the Arizona State Charter Schools Board. He was elected in 1999 to serve the public on the Arizona State Senate, a position he maintained until 2007. Bennett's served as Republican Floor Leader in 2002 and Senate president for his final years (2003-2007) before reaching the office's four-term term limit.[3]
Arizona Secretary of State (2009-present)
- See also: Ballotpedia Q&A with Bennett
Previous officeholder and fellow Republican Jan Brewer appointed Bennett as her successor in January, 2009 upon her election to the Governor's office. He was elected to a full term in 2010.
Transparency
In early 2012, Bennett was been coordinating with Attorney General of Arizona Tom Horne and Representative Eddie Farnsworth on a bill promoting transparency in the financing of campaigns. The legislation, House Bill 2385, addresses inadequate campaign finance regulations as well as a group called called “Citizens United” organizations. The bill seeks to "ensure the integrity of Arizona's electoral process by expanding corporate disclosure requirements."[4]
Bennett also changed a law that required state agencies to file a paper notice of where a public meeting notice will be posted. "Agencies will establish a notice area on their Web site creating transparency in government."[5]
Updating office operations
Bennett upgraded the office's paper filing systems with an electronic system for improved efficiency and accuracy in processing records and election data. He also updated the Secretary of State website to meet to state layout standards. The new site archives all office and election information, and is more user-friendly, making information more accessible and transparent to Arizona constituents.
Presidential preference
2012
Ken Bennett endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. [6]
Elections
2014
- See also: Arizona gubernatorial election, 2014
In 2011, Bennett began exploring a possible run for Governor of Arizona in 2014. As of November 2012, Bennett was still considering a bid, though he has not made any formal commitment to enter the race.[7]
2010
- 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary
- Ken Bennett ran unopposed in this contest
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - General Election [8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Republican Party |  Ken Bennett
|
58.2% | |
| Democratic Party | Chris Deschene | 41.8% | |
| Total Votes | 1,661,065 | ||
Campaign donors
Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Ken Bennett's donors each year.[9] Click [show] for more information.
| Ken Bennett's Campaign Contributions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Arizona Secretary of State | 2004 Arizona State Senate | 2002 Arizona State Senate | 2000 Arizona State Senate | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Raised | $483,618 | $30,775 | $49,232 | $17,950 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $187,710 (Dem.) | $42,051 (Dem.) | $42,870 (Dem.) | $36,511 (Dem.) | |||||||||||||||
| Top 5 contributors | Public Fund | $458,008 | Salt River Project | $1,000 | Committee to Elect Ken Bennett | $26,286 | Arizona Association of Realtors | $1,052 | |||||||||||
| Billy E Shield | $140 | Arizona Dental Association | $500 | Arizona Association of Realtors | $600 | Land Title Association of Arizona Political Action | $350 | ||||||||||||
| Marie F Isaacson | $140 | Debra Bisgrove | $280 | Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona | $550 | Howard T. Grace | $256 | ||||||||||||
| Craig Stevens | $140 | Brian Luscher | $280 | Western Growers Association | $500 | Ann Grace | $256 | ||||||||||||
| Gladysann Wells | $140 | Dennis Pobiak | $280 | Phoenix Firefighters Local 493 | $500 | Michael M. Racy | $256 | ||||||||||||
| Individuals | $25,330 | $22,870 | $14,080 | $13,942 | |||||||||||||||
| Institutions | - | $7,440 | $8,600 | $3,983 | |||||||||||||||
| In-state donations | $482,308 | $27,355 | $47,232 | $17,450 | |||||||||||||||
| Out-of-state donations | $1,310 | $3,420 | $2,000 | $500 | |||||||||||||||
Personal
Ken Bennett currently resides in Prescott, Arizona with his wife, Jeanne, and their three children - Ryan, Dana, and Clif. He is a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Recent news
 |
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This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "Ken + Bennett + Arizona + Secretary"
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Ken Bennett News Feed
- Ken Bennett, Arizona Secretary Of State, Reportedly On Payroll Of ... - Huffington Post
- Arizona secretary of state on payroll of Freedomworks activist - Salon
- Sheriff Joe Recall: Ken Bennett seeks dismissal from Arpaio recall lawsuit - ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
- Mesquite solar plant is completed - AZCentral.com - Arizona Republic
- COMMUNITY BRIEFS - Arizona Daily Sun - Arizona Daily Sun
- NSBA president: Small business optimism on the rise - Phoenix Business Journal
- Reducing provisional ballots makes elections more efficient, credible - Arizona Daily Sun
- Large Solar Project Completed in Arizona - GetSolar.com
- Sempra U.S. Gas & Power com of 'largest Arizona solar project - PV-Tech
- Brewer calls small businesses 'backbone' of Arizona's economy - KPHO Phoenix
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Contact information
Capitol Address:
1700 West Washington Street, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888
Phone: (602) 542-4285
Toll Phone: (602) 255-8683
Fax: (602) 542-1575
Department:
Arizona State Complex Building
400 West Congress, 2nd Floor, Room 252
Tucson, AZ 85701
Phone: 520-628-6583
Fax: 520-628-6938
See also
External links
- Official Arizona Secretary of State website
- Ken Bennett for Secretary of State 2010 Campaign website
- Ken Bennett's Facebook profile
- Ken Bennett's Twitter account
- Project Vote Smart - Ken Bennett biography
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996
References
- ↑ AZ Central "Brewer picks Ken Bennett for sec. of state" 9 Jan. 2009
- ↑ East Valley Tribune "State races: It's a Republican sweep" 2 Nov. 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ken Bennett for SoS, "Timeline", accessed February 14, 2012
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, "Press Release", January 18, 2012
- ↑ Ken Bennett for Arizona SoS, "Accomplishments", accessed February 14, 2012
- ↑ Mitt Romney for President, "Mitt Romney Announces Support of Additional Arizona Elected Officials," February 2, 2012
- ↑ Arizona Republic, "All eyes on 2014 race for governor," November 11, 2012
- ↑ Arizona Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ Follow the Money.org
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jan Brewer (R) |
Arizona Secretary of State 2009–present |
Succeeded by NA |
| |||||||||||||||||||
- 2012 endorsement of Mitt Romney for President
- Current Arizona secretary of state
- Current Republican secretary of state
- Current secretaries of state
- Republican candidates for Secretary of State, 2010
- Candidates for statewide constitutional offices, Arizona, 2010
- Republican Party
- Arizona
- State executive candidate, 2014
- Gubernatorial candidate, 2014
- 2014 potential candidate
