WHAT’S NEW & WHO’S NEWS
Ken Jenkins Named Westchester Executive; County to Hold Special Election on Feb. 11
WHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to appoint Deputy County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins Westchester County Executive until a Special Election, which the Board has set for Feb. 11.
The public will vote to elect a County Executive to serve the remainder of now Congressman George Latimer’s original term through December 2025. Mr. Jenkins succeeds Acting County Executive Richard G. Wishnie, who was designated to the transitional role by Board Chairman Vedat Gashi immediately after Mr. Latimer officially stepped down on Jan. 2.
Board Chairman Gashi (D-New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “Ken Jenkins is a leader who understands the needs of our residents and the complexities of our county government. We look forward to continuing our productive collaboration with him now and in the future.”
In the Latimer administration, Mr. Jenkins touted his work to cut taxes, build affordable housing, protect a woman’s right to choose, reduce crime, restore aging infrastructure and protect the environment. Mr. Jenkins, a Westchester County resident for the past 43 years, has made history as Westchester’s first-ever Black County Executive.
Mr. Jenkins’s career spans telecommunications and technology in companies that include Apple, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, New York Telephone (Verizon), NYNEX and Seer Technologies. He also gained sales experience as an owner and broker in the real estate sector during his tenure at ERA Gem Realty.
Mr. Jenkins’ public and community involvement includes board service with the Greyston Foundation, United Way, Westchester County District Attorney’s Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime Stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He served as President of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP and the Yonkers Community Action Program.
A longstanding member of the Democratic Party, he has held various leadership positions, including: Treasurer of the New York State Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester and Secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Committee, in addition to serving on its Executive Committee. He has also shared his political insights as a frequent analyst on the cable news station, News 12 Westchester.