Kenneth Corn

Kenneth Corn
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 4th district
In office November 2002 – November 2010
Preceded by	Larry Dickerson
Succeeded by	Mark Allen
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 3rd district
In office 1998–2002
Personal details
Born	October 8, 1976 Poteau, Oklahoma
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Howe, Oklahoma
Alma mater	University of Oklahoma
Religion	First Christian Church of Heavener

Kenneth Corn (born October 8, 1976) is a former member of the Oklahoma Senate, representing an electoral district that includes Sequoyah and Le Flore counties. He served as caucus chair for the Democratic caucus in the Oklahoma Senate. He previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002 and served as the Democratic caucus secretary. He ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma losing to Republican Todd Lamb on November 2, 2010.

Early life

Corn was born October 8, 1976, to Elester and Katy Corn in Poteau, Oklahoma. A Howe High School graduate, he earned his bachelor's in 2005 from the University of Oklahoma.^[1] Corn served in a number of national civic organizations and on the National School-to-Work Advisory Council for the U.S. departments of education and labor. He worked as a legislative intern for James Hamilton, the appropriations chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and former President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.

Oklahoma Legislature

Corn served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002.^[2] He was 22 at the time of his election.^[3] During his tenure, he was appointed the first freshmen lawmaker in thirty years to serve as vice chair of a major committee, Revenue and Taxation. Corn later served as chair of the committee on Tourism and Recreation.

In 2002, he was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate at the age of 25, making him the second youngest state senator in the state's history.^[4] He was elected to the House at the age of twenty-two which made him one of the youngest Oklahomans to serve in state’s history. Serving in the Senate, Corn was tapped as Chair of the Retirement and Insurance Committee and served six years on the State Pension Commission. With these responsibilities, he had oversight over billions of dollars in assets. Corn was also appointed as Chair of the Senate Approriations Subcommitte on Public Safety and Judiciary. Historic investments were made to improve law enforcement pay and benefits as well as infrastructure during his committee leadership.^[5]

In the Legislature, Corn worked for major change to the state's retirement system for public employees.^[6] He also authored a resolution to put a state question on the ballot that would create an emergency roads fund.^[7] Corn was the principal architect in the Senate for the largest investment in roads and bridge in state history at the time in 2005. Corn authored legislation that raised teacher pay moving it closer to the regional average. In addition, Corn passed legistaion that provide Oklahoma education employees their health insurance. Oklahoma's Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training was reformed under Senate Bill 920 authored by Corn.

Campaign for Lieutenant Governor

Corn announced on January 21, 2009, he would seek the Oklahoma Democratic Party's nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma as part of the 2010 state elections.^[8] Corn was the only Democrat to file for office and thus received the Democratic nomination without opposition. On November 2, 2010, Corn lost the election to Todd Lamb, nominee of the Oklahoma Republican Party.^[9]

Personal life

Corn serves as a deacon in the First Christian Church of Heavener and is a member of the National Rifle Association.^[10] Corn serves on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America Indian Nations Council. He has been an assistant scoutmaster on the National Scout Jamoboree in 2005 and on a summer trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. Corn also is an Eagle Scout and a member of the National Association of Eagle Scouts. Corn also is a member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders where he has represented the United States on exchanges in Vietnam and Euro-Asia Conference on Democracy.^[11]

He has worked as an adjunct professor with Carl Albert State College.

References

1. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09
2. Oklahoma House Historic Membership
3. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09
4. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09
5. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09
6. "Senate passes bill on retirement plan", NewsOk.com, March 16, 2005.
7. Mock, Jennifer. "House committee OKs Safe Roads measure", NewsOk.com, April 13, 2006.
8. Young, Laura. "Corn enters race for Lt. Governor". Poteau Daily News.
9. 2010 General Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed April 30, 2013)
10. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09
11. Oklahoma State Senate Biography 10-14-09

External links

1. Senator Kenneth Corn - District 4 official State Senate website
2. Project Vote Smart - Kenneth Corn (OK) profile
3. Follow the Money - Kenneth Corn

• • 2008 2006 2004 2002 State Senate campaign contributions
  • 2000 State House campaign contributions