Ken Bennett

Biography

Name:  Kenneth “Ken” R. Bennett

Name as Secretary of State: Ken Bennett

Notes: Guitar player, once known as one of the "Singing Senators" in the Arizona Legislature.

Other Elected Offices:
Arizona State Senate: Office Years: 1999 – 2006, President: 2003 – 2006
Prescott City Council: Office Years: 1985 – 1989
Mayor Pro Tempore: 1988

Education: Prescott High School, 1977; Yavapai College, 1978, 1981; Church Service/voluntary missionary, Southern Japan, 1978 – 1980; Bachelor of Science, Accounting, Arizona State University, 1984

Occupations: Bennett’s Oil Co., CEO, 1984 – 2006, board of directors, 1989 –

Memberships: Arizona State Board of Education, 1992 – 1999 (president, 1996,1998); Education Leaders Council, Washington, DC, 1995 – ; Arizona State Charter Schools Board, 1994 – 1996; Governor's Task Force on Education Reform, 1991 – 1992; Prescott Chamber of Commerce board of directors, 1991 – 1993; chairman of the board of directors for Global Building Systems, Inc. and Energy Tech America; board of directors for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (Western Regional Medical Center, in Goodyear).

Notable: When did you first learn to play [the guitar]? I think I was about eight or nine…. There was an older couple in the Prescott area who had a music store and they gave [guitar and accordion] lessons…. [S]ince I was the oldest brother, I got to choose. I chose the guitar, and my brother, I think, has never forgiven me…. Yes, had I been the second brother in the Bennett family, I would've done all my sine die songs on the accordion.” (Duda, Jeremy. "Q&A with Ken Bennett, Arizona Secretary of State." Arizona Capitol Times, January 9, 2011)

Sources: SOS bio; birth: 2006 Guide to the 47th Legislature (green book); misc. notes compiled on SOS succession to Governorship.