Exclusive: Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins announces run for county executive
The Yonkers Democrat and former county board chairman also saw his political clout skyrocket last year, chairing the state Independent Redistricting Commission and redrawing the maps that brought a yearslong legal and political drama to a close.
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Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins announced to News 12 in an exclusive interview with our senior reporter Tara Rosenblum that he has officially decided to run for the county's top job now that George Latimer is heading to Washington to serve in Congress.
It's a powerful position that Jenkins has sought out twice before - first in 2013 and then again in 2017, when he lost the Democratic primary to George Latimer.
Latimer would bring on Jenkins to serve as his top deputy, fighting together for more affordable housing and local tax relief.
The Yonkers Democrat and former county board chairman also saw his political clout skyrocket last year, chairing the state Independent Redistricting Commission and redrawing the maps that brought a years-long legal and political drama to a close.
Jenkins has a complicated "path to power" once Latimer leaves for the Capitol in January. The county Legislature will name an interim county executive, likely Jenkins, and schedule a special election within 90 days. During that time , each political party will get to name their own nominees to fill out the remainder of Latimer's term.
Then there is the possibility of a June primary ahead of the November election against a yet-to-be-named Republican opponent, making it three campaigns, potentially in less than a year.
If Jenkins comes out on top when all the political dust settles, he would make history as Westchester's first Black county executive - something that weighs heavy for the former Yonkers NAACP president.
