Ken Bentsen
{{Short description|American politician (born 1959)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ken Bentsen
| image name = Ken Bentsen.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|6|3}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| state = Texas
| district = 25th
| term = January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
| preceded = Michael A. Andrews
| succeeded = Chris Bell
| party = Democratic
| spouse =
| children = 2
| education = University of St. Thomas (BA)
American University (MPA)
| relations = Lloyd Bentsen (uncle)
}}
Kenneth Edward Bentsen Jr.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oJjS57uXxDIC&pg=PA211|title=Financial Disclosure Reports of Members of the U.S. House of Representatives|work=United States House of Representatives|year=1999}} (born June 3, 1959) is an American lobbyist and former politician from Texas, serving four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He is the nephew of former senator and secretary of the treasury, Lloyd Bentsen.
Early life and education
Born in Houston, Texas to Kenneth Sr. and Mary Bentsen, he graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1977. Bentsen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1982 and a Master of Public Administration from American University in 1985.{{Cite web|title=BENTSEN, Kenneth E., Jr. {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives|url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/B/BENTSEN,-Kenneth-E-,-Jr--(B000400)/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=history.house.gov|language=en}}
Career
From 1983 to 1987, he served on the staff of Congressman Ronald D. Coleman and from 1985 to 1987 was an associate staff member on the United States House Committee on Appropriations. Afterwards, he worked as an investment banker.
=Congress =
Bentsen was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and served from 1995 to 2003. As a congressman, he was one of 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq on October 10, 2002. In 2002, Bentsen opted to run for the U.S. Senate to replace Phil Gramm; he then lost the Democratic primary to Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk who lost the general election to Texas Attorney General John Cornyn. In May, 2006, he became president of the Equipment Leasing Association in Washington, D.C.
=Later career =
Bentsen is the president and CEO of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.{{Cite web|title=Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr. {{!}} SIFMA|url=https://www.sifma.org/people/kenneth-e-bentsen-jr/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.sifma.org}} He was named a "Top Lobbyist" by The Hill and one of "Washington's Most Influential People" by Washingtonian.{{Cite web|last=Perks|first=Ashley|date=2020-12-10|title=The Hill's Top Lobbyists 2020|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/top-lobbyists/529550-the-hills-top-lobbyists-2020|access-date=2021-09-26|website=The Hill|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-02-25|title=Washington's Most Influential People|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/02/25/washingtons-most-influential-people/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=Washingtonian|language=en-US}}
Personal life
He has two daughters with wife Tamra Bentsen. The four reside in Washington, D.C.
External links
{{CongBio|B000400}}
- {{C-SPAN|7221}}
References
{{USCongRep/TX/104}}
{{USCongRep/TX/105}}
{{USCongRep/TX/106}}
{{USCongRep/TX/107}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
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{{s-bef|before=Greg Laughlin|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=Max Sandlin|as=Former US Representative}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bentsen, Ken}}
Category:Deerfield Academy alumni
Category:University of St. Thomas (Texas) alumni
Category:American University School of Public Affairs alumni
Category:Politicians from Houston
Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas
Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives