Kent Eken's Voting Platform

Kent Eken serves the Minnesota State Senate for District 4
In 2002, Eken was first elected to the Minnesota House to represent District 2A. He was re-elected four times before being elected to the Senate to represent District 4 in 2012 and then re-elected in 2016. Eken has been a passionate advocate for Greater Minnesota and our quality of life. He has built a reputation as one who works across party lines for the good of our region. Kent Eken is working hard to:
  • Reduce our property taxes
  • Lower tuition rates
  • Protect our communities from flooding
  • Maintain and improve the quality of our education, health/long-term care, and transportation system

Endorsements

The following groups endorse Senator Kent Eken for re-election to the Minnesota Senate:

  • AFSCME Council 65
  • Care Providers of Minnesota
  • Education Minnesota
  • Housing First Minnesota
  • Inter Faculty Organization (IFO)
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA)
  • Minnesota AFL-CIO
  • Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
  • Minnesota Farmers Union
  • Minnesota Farm Bureau
  • Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA)
  • Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
  • National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
  • Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
  • Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation – Transportation Division (SMART-TD)
  • United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1189

 

Senator Kent Eken files for 2016 re-election to the Minnesota Senate.
Senator Kent Eken files for 2016 re-election to the Minnesota Senate.

Reducing Property Taxes

Kent Eken is very concerned about the increasing property taxes that hit Greater Minnesota much harder than other areas of the state. Kent Eken fought to save the Homestead Credit, and voted against the elimination of this program which is so important to our citizens. Unfortunately, we were out-voted and the program was eliminated.

Because of this, property taxes are going up eight times faster on rural homeowners than metro homeowners in the Twin Cities. “This is wrong, and I will work to restore the Homestead Credit if elected to the State Senate,” Eken said. “We in rural and Greater Minnesota are not second-class citizens. We are all part of one state and deserve to be treated as equals.”

Teaching Future Generations

Quality of education and access to education are of up-most importance to Kent Eken. From experience as a student and as a teacher, Kent Eken understands the needs of schools and very well.

After graduating from Concordia College in Moorhead, Kent taught high school in rural Minnesota for many years. He taught economics, history, and government. In a school survey sent out to alumni, Kent was chosen most often by students as the teacher who had the greatest impact on their lives. These experiences have strongly shaped his policy decisions.

Protecting Against Floods

Growing up on the family farm, Kent Eken understands just how devastating flooding can be. Kent Eken’s efforts at flood control have been recognized by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Maintaining and Improving Quality of Life for Western Minnesotans

Eken is also working to maintain and improve the quality of our education, health care, and transportation systems. Eken is especially concerned about long-term care for our seniors who have given us so much. “The only reason we enjoy such a high quality of life is because of the sacrifices they have made,” he stated. “We have risen higher because we stand on their shoulders.”

Eken has been an out-spoken advocate for our nursing homes and other long-term care services. If elected, he will continue to work for our seniors and those who provide the care and services they need and deserve.

KENT EKEN

for Minnesota State Senate in District 4 across Norman County, Clay County and part of Becker County.