Ken Detzner Explained

Ken Detzner
Office:28th Secretary of State of Florida
Governor:Rick Scott
Term Start:February 17, 2012
Term End:January 8, 2019
Predecessor:Kurt S. Browning
Successor:Mike Ertel
Governor1:Jeb Bush
Term Start1:Acting: January 7, 2003
Term End1:February 26, 2003
Predecessor1:James C. Smith
Successor1:Glenda Hood
Birth Date:18 September 1952
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S
Party:Democratic (before 1984)
Republican (1984–present)
Education:Florida State University (BA)

Kenneth W. Detzner (born September 18, 1952) is an American politician who served as the 28th Secretary of State of Florida from 2012 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously held the office in 2003 in an acting capacity.

Career

Early years

Detzner graduated from Florida State University in 1975.[1] He was a registered Democrat until 1984 when he changed his registration to Republican. He worked as a lobbyist for the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association. He served as chief of staff to James C. Smith, then the Secretary of State of Florida, from 2002 to 2003.

Secretary of State of Florida

After the 2002 election, Governor of Florida Jeb Bush appointed Detzner as interim Secretary of State, prior to the swearing-in of Glenda Hood.[2]

In January 2012, Florida Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning announced his resignation to run for School Superintendent of Pasco County. Rick Scott, the Governor of Florida, appointed Detzner to the position to succeed him on January 18, 2012, and he was confirmed by the Florida Senate in late February.[3]

As Florida Secretary of State, Detzner has been accused of continuing a "voter purge" begun by Browning. The United States Department of Justice asked the state to suspend the practice of removing possible ineligible voters from voters lists.[4] Detzner called for machine recounts in the 2018 U.S. Senate election and 2018 gubernatorial election.[5] He called for manual recounts in the U.S. Senate race on November 15, 2018.[6]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Florida recount: Rick Scott appointee to oversee . Tallahassee.com . November 7, 2018 . November 16, 2018.
  2. Web site: Any voting issues in Florida will fall in Ken Detzner's lap. The Tampa Bay Times. November 5, 2012. November 5, 2014.
  3. Web site: Detzner confirmed as Florida's new Secretary of State. WFSU.com. February 27, 2012. November 5, 2014.
  4. News: U.S. Justice Department asks Florida to end voter purge. The New York Times. June 1, 2012. November 5, 2014.
  5. Web site: Florida vote: Recounts ordered for U.S. Senate, governor, agriculture commissioner . Orlando Sentinel . November 2, 2018 . November 16, 2018.
  6. Web site: Florida orders first ever statewide hand-recounts as legal fights continue . Tampabay.com . November 16, 2018.