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Ken Bentsen | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's25th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Michael A. Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Chris Bell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kenneth Edward Bentsen Jr. (1959-06-03)June 3, 1959 (age 66) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Lloyd Bentsen (uncle) |
| Education | University of St. Thomas (BA) American University (MPA) |
Kenneth Edward Bentsen Jr.[1] (born June 3, 1959) is an American lobbyist and former politician fromTexas, serving four terms in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He is the nephew of former senator and secretary of the treasury,Lloyd Bentsen.
Born inHouston, Texas to Kenneth Sr. and Mary Bentsen, he graduated fromDeerfield Academy in 1977. Bentsen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from theUniversity of St. Thomas in 1982 and aMaster of Public Administration fromAmerican University in 1985.[2]
From 1983 to 1987, he served on the staff of CongressmanRonald D. Coleman and from 1985 to 1987 was an associate staff member on theUnited States House Committee on Appropriations. Afterwards, he worked as aninvestment banker.
Bentsen was elected to theU.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 theinvasion of Iraq on October 10, 2002. In 2002, Bentsen opted to run for theU.S. Senate to replacePhil Gramm; he then lost the Democratic primary toDallasMayorRon Kirk who lost the general election toTexas Attorney GeneralJohn Cornyn. In May, 2006, he became president of the Equipment Leasing Association inWashington, D.C.
Bentsen is the president and CEO of theSecurities Industry and Financial Markets Association.[3] He was named a "Top Lobbyist" byThe Hill and one of "Washington's Most Influential People" byWashingtonian.[4][5]
He has two daughters with wife Tamra Bentsen. The four reside in Washington, D.C.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTexas's 25th congressional district 1995–2003 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
