Ken Croken

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Ken Croken

|image = Ken Croken.jpg

|state_house1 = Iowa

|district1 = 97th

|term_start1 = January 9, 2023

|term_end1 =

|predecessor1 = Norlin Mommsen (redistricting)

|successor1 =

|constituency1 = District 97 - (2023–present)

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}}

|birth_place = Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = Kathryn McKnight ({{died-in|2021}})

|children = 2

|education = Saint Joseph's University
New England Law Boston

|occupation =

}}

Kenneth R. Croken (born 1950){{cite web |title=Kathryn McKnight Obituary (1948 - 2021) - Davenport, IA - Quad-City Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/qctimes/name/kathryn-mcknight-obituary?id=32056540 |website=Legacy.com |access-date=June 4, 2024}} is an American politician and retired attorney who has represented the 97th district of the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2023, which consists of part of eastern Davenport in Scott County. He is a member of the Democratic Party.{{cite web |title=State Representative - All Years |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=33997 |website=Iowa Legislature |access-date=June 4, 2024}}

Early life

Croken was born in 1950 in Long Branch, New Jersey, and was raised in Keansburg, New Jersey. He attended Mater Dei High School.[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-kenneth-croken-of-mat/148758150/ "Pep Club Members Elect New Officers"], The Daily Register, May 6, 1966. Accessed June 5, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Kenneth Croken and Eleanor Cahill were elected president and treasurer of the Pep Club recently in Mater Dei High School." He received a bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph's University and a Juris Doctor from New England Law Boston.

Political career

Croken won a seat on the Scott County Board of Supervisors in 2018.{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Jonathan |title=Croken announces run for Iowa General Assembly in 2022 |url=https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/croken-announces-run-for-iowa-general-assembly-in-2022/ |website=WHBF - OurQuadCities.com |access-date=June 4, 2024 |date=10 November 2021}}

Croken announced his candidacy for the 97th district of the Iowa House of Representatives in November 2021, shortly after decennial redistricting. He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 7, 2022, and defeated Libertarian Andrew Onsgard in the general election on November 8 by over 3,500 votes. He subsequently resigned from the Scott County Board of Supervisors.{{cite web |title=Ken Croken |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ken_Croken |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en}}

In August 2023, Croken announced that he was running for mayor of Davenport.{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Sarah |title=State Rep. Ken Croken announces bid for mayor of Davenport |url=https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/state-rep-ken-croken-announces-bid-for-mayor-of-davenport/article_5165cc5e-317a-11ee-b67e-cb67e14543b1.html |website=The Quad-City Times |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en |date=3 August 2023}} He was defeated in the general election by incumbent Mike Matson by over 1,600 votes.{{cite web |title=Matson wins third term as Davenport mayor |url=https://www.kwqc.com/2023/11/08/matson-wins-third-term-davenport-mayor/ |website=KWQC |access-date=June 4, 2024 |language=en |date=8 November 2023}}

In 2024, Croken filed to run for reelection to the Iowa House.{{cite web |title=primarycandidatelist.pdf |url=https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/Candidates/primarycandidatelist.pdf |website=Iowa Secretary of State |access-date=June 5, 2024}} He won the Democratic primaries unopposed on June 4, 2024, and will face Republican Josue Rodriguez in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Croken currently serves on the Administration and Rules, Labor and Workforce, Local Government, and Ways and Means committees.{{cite web |title=State Representative - Bills & Committees |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=90&personID=33997 |website=Iowa Legislature |access-date=June 5, 2024}}

Personal life

Croken has two adult children and resides in Davenport. His wife Kathryn died of breast cancer in 2021. He is a retired attorney and former communications and government relations manager. He is also an adjunct faculty member at St. Ambrose University and is a member of the Quad Cities River Bandits ownership group.

Electoral history

* = incumbent

{{Compact election box no change

|election_title = Iowa House of Representatives Democratic primary elections, 2022

|election_note = District 97

|election_ref =

|turnout_votes = 1,434

|result = (newly redistricted)

|winner = Ken Croken

|winner_party = Iowa Democratic Party

|winner_votes = 1,421

|winner_percent = 99.1

|candidate2 = Other/Write-in votes

|candidate2_party =

|candidate2_votes = 13

|candidate2_percent = 0.9

}}

{{Compact election box no change

|election_title = Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2022

|election_note = District 97

|election_ref =

|turnout_votes = 7,856

|result = (newly redistricted)

|winner = Ken Croken

|winner_party = Iowa Democratic Party

|winner_votes = 5,638

|winner_percent = 71.8

|candidate2 = Andrew Onsgard

|candidate2_party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate2_votes = 2,092

|candidate2_percent = 26.6

|candidate3 = Other/Write-in votes

|candidate3_party =

|candidate3_votes = 126

|candidate3_percent = 1.6

}}

{{Compact election box no change

|election_title = Davenport mayoral election, 2023

|election_note =

|election_ref = {{cite web |title=Election results: Davenport Mayor Mike Matson reelected |url=https://www.ourquadcities.com/your-local-election-headquarters/live-2023-election-results/ |website=WHBF - OurQuadCities.com |access-date=June 5, 2024 |date=8 November 2023}}

|turnout_votes = 10,862

|result =

|winner = Mike Matson*

|winner_party = Iowa Democratic Party

|winner_votes = 6,258

|winner_percent = 57.6

|candidate2 = Ken Croken

|candidate2_party = Iowa Democratic Party

|candidate2_votes = 4,604

|candidate2_percent = 42.4

}}