Full Name
Ken Jenkins
Job Title
Deputy County Executive
Company
Westchester Deputy County Executive
Speaker Bio
Ken Jenkins currently serves as Westchester Deputy County Executive, a post to which he was appointed at the beginning of County Executive George Latimer’s first term in 2018. Ken was appointed to this role after serving as a co-chair of the Latimer Administration Transition Team and after facing off with County Executive Latimer in an uncontentious contest.
Ken's many years of public and community involvement include service on the boards of many distinguished community groups and organizations, such as the Greyston Foundation, the United Way, the Westchester County District Attorney's Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He was President for over five years of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP. He also has served as President of the Yonkers Community Action Program.
Ken was elected to his fourth full term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2015. He was first elected to the Board with 81% of the vote in a special election in March 2007 and was elected to his first full term that November. From 2010-2013, Ken served as the Board’s Chairman.
As a County Legislator, Ken stood up for Democratic priorities and the needs of middle-class families—from fighting to keep childcare affordable, to increasing tax relief, to protecting a woman’s right to choose and preserving our environment. He has earned a reputation for effectiveness and getting results.
As Deputy County Executive, Ken has led numerous efforts on behalf of Westchester County Government and has played a key role in the Latimer Administration on initiatives aimed at improving the lives of all who call Westchester home. Some of which include cutting County Property Taxes, growing the County’s affordable housing stock, ensuring all are treated fairly and equitably regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation and leading Westchester County into a green future through innovative environmental efforts. Ken has also played a large role in helping Westchester’s Department of Information Technology provide streamlined services to County residents – an issue in which Ken has years of private sector experience.
Until May 2017, when he stepped down to focus on the campaign, Ken also served as President/CEO of the Yonkers Industrial Development Association, the mandate of which is to create job growth in Yonkers. It was a position which afforded Ken the opportunity to continue the work he cares most about: economic development, jobs and affordable housing in Westchester.
Ken's many years of public and community involvement include service on the boards of many distinguished community groups and organizations, such as the Greyston Foundation, the United Way, the Westchester County District Attorney's Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He was President for over five years of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP. He also has served as President of the Yonkers Community Action Program.
A familiar face on Cablevision News since 1998, Ken appeared regularly as the Democratic political analyst on News 12 Westchester’s Newsmakers and Point/Counterpoint programs.
Ken has long been active in the Democratic Party in Westchester, having served as Chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Committee and Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester. He also served as Secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Committee, as well as on its Executive Committee.
Ken, a proud former boy scout and Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 32, is an alumnus of Fordham Preparatory School and Iona College, where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems. After a 20-year career in telecommunications, Ken continued to utilize those skills by teaching at Apple prior to serving as Deputy County Executive. Ken also holds a real estate license and was previously an Associate/Broker at ERA Insite Realty.
Ken and his wife, Deborah Hudson-Jenkins, have resided in Yonkers since they were married in 1982 and have three children Alana, Jamal, and Terrell.
Ken's many years of public and community involvement include service on the boards of many distinguished community groups and organizations, such as the Greyston Foundation, the United Way, the Westchester County District Attorney's Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He was President for over five years of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP. He also has served as President of the Yonkers Community Action Program.
Ken was elected to his fourth full term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2015. He was first elected to the Board with 81% of the vote in a special election in March 2007 and was elected to his first full term that November. From 2010-2013, Ken served as the Board’s Chairman.
As a County Legislator, Ken stood up for Democratic priorities and the needs of middle-class families—from fighting to keep childcare affordable, to increasing tax relief, to protecting a woman’s right to choose and preserving our environment. He has earned a reputation for effectiveness and getting results.
As Deputy County Executive, Ken has led numerous efforts on behalf of Westchester County Government and has played a key role in the Latimer Administration on initiatives aimed at improving the lives of all who call Westchester home. Some of which include cutting County Property Taxes, growing the County’s affordable housing stock, ensuring all are treated fairly and equitably regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation and leading Westchester County into a green future through innovative environmental efforts. Ken has also played a large role in helping Westchester’s Department of Information Technology provide streamlined services to County residents – an issue in which Ken has years of private sector experience.
Until May 2017, when he stepped down to focus on the campaign, Ken also served as President/CEO of the Yonkers Industrial Development Association, the mandate of which is to create job growth in Yonkers. It was a position which afforded Ken the opportunity to continue the work he cares most about: economic development, jobs and affordable housing in Westchester.
Ken's many years of public and community involvement include service on the boards of many distinguished community groups and organizations, such as the Greyston Foundation, the United Way, the Westchester County District Attorney's Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He was President for over five years of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP. He also has served as President of the Yonkers Community Action Program.
A familiar face on Cablevision News since 1998, Ken appeared regularly as the Democratic political analyst on News 12 Westchester’s Newsmakers and Point/Counterpoint programs.
Ken has long been active in the Democratic Party in Westchester, having served as Chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Committee and Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester. He also served as Secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Committee, as well as on its Executive Committee.
Ken, a proud former boy scout and Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 32, is an alumnus of Fordham Preparatory School and Iona College, where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems. After a 20-year career in telecommunications, Ken continued to utilize those skills by teaching at Apple prior to serving as Deputy County Executive. Ken also holds a real estate license and was previously an Associate/Broker at ERA Insite Realty.
Ken and his wife, Deborah Hudson-Jenkins, have resided in Yonkers since they were married in 1982 and have three children Alana, Jamal, and Terrell.
Speaking At
