Kenneth Dunkin

Kenneth Dunkin (born February 12, 1966) is an American politician.

Born February 12, 1966 in Chicago, Dunkin was raised in the Cabrini–Green housing project on the city's Near-north side.

After graduating from Lincoln Park High School in 1984, Dunkin went on to earn his associate degree from Loop College (now known as Harold Washington College).

Dunkin continued his education at Morehouse College where he earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science and later his master's degree in social welfare from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.

As a youth, Dunkin was influenced by Jesse White, Illinois politician and founder of the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

Dunkin worked as social worker for many years.

Most recently, he was the Director of the Robert Taylor Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, where he managed over $2.5 million in program services.

He also worked as a consultant for the City of Chicago Department of Health and Department on Aging.

He interned with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Care Financing Administration, and United States Senator Paul Simon.

Dunkin is currently a member of the Attorney Registration Disciplinary Commission (appointed by Illinois Supreme Court), Board of the Chicago International Film Festival, Lawson YMCA, Near North Health Services Corp, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the Governor's Film Task Force.

As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Dunkin served on seven committees: International Trade & Commerce, Financial Institutions, Insurance, Mass Transit, Appropriations-High Education, Telecommunications, and Chairman of Tourism and Conventions.

Dunkin was also a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

Representative Ken Dunkin was the Chief Sponsor for the Illinois Film Tax Credit.

This legislation generated thousands of union and non-union jobs throughout the state and hundreds of millions of dollars in local and state tax revenue.

His Film credit encouraged major film, commercial and television such as "Batman-The Dark Knight","The Beast", "Public Enemy", "Barbershop 1 & 2", "The Break-Up", "Roll-Bounce", "Ocean's 12," "The Weather Man", "Spider-Man 2", "Derailed", "Transformers 3", etc. to be shot in Illinois.

Dunkin served as a State Lawmaker for over 15 years and was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.

He was becoming a ranking member with influence and did not side with the Madigan allyship that many Democrats found shelter under.

Because of that, he encountered several times where he had to stand in his own position when many others disagreed.

Dunkin previously served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 5th District from December 2002 until January 2017 and as an appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to fill a vacancy on the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in May 2018, serving until December of that same year.

In 2013, Representative Dunkin voted "yea" to a plan that amended state employee pension plans by drastically reducing the constitutionally protected benefits of Illinois state employees in retirement.

The Illinois Supreme Court ultimately found these legislative changes to be unconstitutional.

Dunkin most recently "no-showed" (did not vote) on an important vote in the House.

House Democrats were attempting of override a veto by Governor Bruce Rauner on SB 1229.

SB 1229 which would have empowered an arbitrator to decide negotiation disputes between public sector unions and the governor.

Its implementation would have impeded the Governor's ability to force a "lock-out" of state workers during contract negotiations and also prevented the union from striking.

As reported by the Chicago Sun-times, Dunkin, responding over text, played coy initially when a Sun-Times reporter asked him about his absence:

"Why, what's going on??"

Dunkin responded.

He then said: "I'm out of town as I informed the Speaker et al last week. Period."

When defending his decision to no-show on the SB1229 vote, Rep. Dunkin's response was, "This bill meant nothing to the average person."

On November 10, 2015, Representative Dunkin once again sided with Governor Rauner rather than his Democratic caucus involving a vote on child care assistance.

House Democrats were just one vote short — voting 70-35 on Senate Bill 570.

It needed 71 votes to pass.

Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, didn't vote — showing some tension between House Democrats and the administration.

"'Come on, Ken!'" House Democrats implored as Dunkin did not vote on two key bills favored by colleagues.

[…]

"Let me be clear that no one bears more responsibility today for the defeat of this legislation, which protects our children and child care and home care in Illinois than Rep. Ken Dunkin himself," Jaquie Algee, vice president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois said at a press conference organized by House Speaker Michael Madigan.

– At one point during an intense, emotional floor debate, state Rep. Jaime Andrade stripped Dunkin's nameplate from the front of his seat, walked it over to the Republican side of the chamber then threw it down, saying: "He's all yours now."

The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board voted on December 17, 2015 to endorse Juliana Stratton for State Representative in the Democratic Primary Election for the 5th District.

Stratton is taking on incumbent Ken Dunkin, who has sided with Gov. Bruce Rauner, casting controversial votes against the interests of working families.