Ken Simpler

Last updated
Ken Simpler
Kenneth A. Simpler.jpg
Treasurer of Delaware
In office
January 6, 2015 –January 1, 2019
Preceded by Chip Flowers
Succeeded by Colleen Davis
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Alvin Simpler, Jr. [1]

(1967-07-15) July 15, 1967 (age 57)
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, U.S.
Political party Republican
SpouseElizabeth Russell [2]
Children3
Education

Kenneth Alvin Simpler, Jr. (born July 15, 1967) is an American politician who served as Delaware State Treasurer from 2015 to 2019. He is the last Republican to win and hold a statewide office in Delaware.

Contents

Education

Simpler attended high school at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political economy at Princeton University. [3] While in college, he was charged in an incident where 45 students were sent to the Princeton infirmary or local hospital for alcohol-induced medical problems, including one student who was in a coma for 24 hours. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail for his role in hosting parties where alcohol was served to minors. [4]

Simpler earned a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago. He was owner and chief financial officer of Seaboard Hotels and managing director at Citadel LLC. He worked as a corporate attorney at Kirkland & Ellis and has served on the board of directors of Draper Holdings, the parent company of WBOC and Fox 21. [3]

While serving as Delaware State Treasurer, Simpler enrolled at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware to pursue a Master of Public Administration. After leaving office, he completed the degree in February 2020. [5]

Political career

Simpler was elected Delaware State Treasurer on November 4, 2014, and took office on January 6, 2015. [6] In the 2018 elections, he was defeated in his reelection campaign by Democrat Colleen Davis. [7] His defeat was one of several losses for prominent Republicans in Delaware in 2018 [7] [8] and to date makes him as the last Republican to serve statewide.

Electoral history

Republican primary election results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ken Simpler 13,491 53.88
Republican Sher Valenzuela11,54946.12
Total votes25,040 100.0
Delaware State Treasurer election, 2014 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ken Simpler 123,105 53.59
Democratic Sean Barney100,21843.63
Green David Chandler6,3732.77
Total votes229,696 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Delaware State Treasurer election, 2018 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Colleen Davis 187,225 52.36%
Republican Ken Simpler (incumbent)163,99945.87%
Green David Chandler6,3001.77%
Total votes357,524 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ↑ "Kenneth Alvin Simpler Jr - Delaware - Public-sector labor union contributions". publicunionfacts.com.
  2. ↑ "Ken Simpler, Esq".
  3. 1 2 "Ken's Background". Official campaign website. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  4. ↑ Hevesi, Dennis (May 26, 1988). "2 at Princeton Get Jail Terms For Roles in Pledge Drinking". New York Times .
  5. ↑ "Home". kensimpler.com.
  6. ↑ "About Kenneth Simpler". State of Delaware. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Smith, Jerry (November 6, 2018). "Democrat Colleen Davis takes state treasurer race over Ken Simpler". The News Journal .
  8. ↑ Schmidt, Sophia (November 7, 2018). "State House and Senate Minority Whips ousted by Democratic challengers". Delaware Public Media.
  9. ↑ "State of Delaware Primary Election (Official Results)". elections.delaware.gov. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "State of Delaware General Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Election Commissioner. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "State of Delaware General Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Election Commissioner. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded byTreasurer of Delaware
2015–2019		Succeeded by
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