Kenneth Corn
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Corn was an Oklahoma Senator from District 4, which includes Sequoyah
and Le Flore
counties. He was selected as Caucus Chair for the Senate Democrats in November 2006. He previously served in the House
from 1998 to 2002 wher he served as Democratic Caucus Secretary. He ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
losing to Republican Todd Lamb
on November 2, 2010.
. A Howe High School graduate, he earned his bachelor's in 2005 from the University of Oklahoma
. 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 powerful House Appropriations Chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and former Senate President Pro-Tempore.
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.http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/corn_bio.html Oklahoma State Senate Biography] 10-14-09
In the Legislature, Corn worked for major change to the state's retirement system for public employees. He also authored a resolution to put a state question on the ballot that would create an emergency roads fund. Corn was the principal archiect 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.
He has worked as an adjunct professor with Carl Albert State College.
's nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
as part of the 2010 state elections
. 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
.
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma
Sequoyah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 38,972. Its county seat is Sallisaw.-History:...
and Le Flore
Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Le Flore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 48,109. Its county seat is Poteau. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the federal...
counties. He was selected as Caucus Chair for the Senate Democrats in November 2006. He previously served in the House
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
from 1998 to 2002 wher he served as Democratic Caucus Secretary. He ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Governor...
losing to Republican Todd Lamb
Todd Lamb (politician)
Todd Lamb is a Republican United States politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2004 to 2011. For the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature, Lamb's fellow Republican Senators elected him as their Majority Floor...
on November 2, 2010.
Early life
Corn was born in 1976 to Elester and Katy Corn in Poteau, OklahomaPoteau, Oklahoma
Poteau is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,520 at the 2010 census, ranking fifth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. It is the county seat of Le Flore County...
. A Howe High School graduate, he earned his bachelor's in 2005 from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. 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 powerful House Appropriations Chairman of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and former Senate President Pro-Tempore.
State House
Corn served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002. He was 22 at the time. During his tenure in the House, 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.State Senate
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.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.http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/corn_bio.html Oklahoma State Senate Biography] 10-14-09
In the Legislature, Corn worked for major change to the state's retirement system for public employees. He also authored a resolution to put a state question on the ballot that would create an emergency roads fund. Corn was the principal archiect 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.
Committee Memberships
- Appropriations Committee
- Education Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Retirement and Insurance Committee
Personal life
Corn serves as a deacon in the First Christian Church of Heavener and is a member of the National Rifle Association. 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.He has worked as an adjunct professor with Carl Albert State College.
Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
Corn announced on January 21, 2009 he would seek the Oklahoma Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic Party
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
's nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Governor...
as part of the 2010 state elections
Oklahoma state elections, 2010
The Oklahoma state elections were held on November 2, 2010. The primary election was held on July 27. The runoff primary election was held August 24....
. 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
Todd Lamb (politician)
Todd Lamb is a Republican United States politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, was a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2004 to 2011. For the 52nd Oklahoma Legislature, Lamb's fellow Republican Senators elected him as their Majority Floor...
, nominee of the Oklahoma Republican Party
Oklahoma Republican Party
The Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...
.
External links
- Senator Kenneth Corn - District 4 official State Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Kenneth Corn (OK) profile
- Follow the Money - Kenneth Corn