Ivan Itkin
Encyclopedia
Ivan Itkin is a former Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. He was his party's nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1998
.
on March 9, 1936. In 1956, he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. Itkin went on to reiceve a masters degree from New York University
in Nuclear Engineering in 1957. After a stint working as a reactor physicist at the Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory Itkin received a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1964. He worked as a nuclear scientist and applied mathematician until 1972, when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives'
23rd District
, which includes portions of Allegheny County.
from 1990 though 1992. He was elected majority leader in 1992, and minority whip in 1994. He was also appointed Speaker Pro Tempore during the 1987-1988 session.
incumbent
Tom Ridge
. He and his running mate, former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
, lost the election with 31% of the vote.
by President
Bill Clinton
in 1999.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. He was his party's nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1998
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1998
The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election of 1998 was held on November 3, 1998. It was between incumbent Republican Tom Ridge and Democrat Ivan Itkin. Ridge, a popular moderate, won with 57% of the votes cast. During this election cycle, Democrats struggled with fundraising issues and had difficulty...
.
Early life
Itkin was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 9, 1936. In 1956, he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. Itkin went on to reiceve a masters degree from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in Nuclear Engineering in 1957. After a stint working as a reactor physicist at the Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory Itkin received a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1964. He worked as a nuclear scientist and applied mathematician until 1972, when he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives'
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
23rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 23
The 23rd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Pittsburgh ** Ward 04 [PART, Divisions 05, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16]** Ward 07 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 11 and 12]...
, which includes portions of Allegheny County.
PA House
Itkin held a variety of leadership positions with the House's Democratic caucus. He served as majority whipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1990 though 1992. He was elected majority leader in 1992, and minority whip in 1994. He was also appointed Speaker Pro Tempore during the 1987-1988 session.
Candidate for governor
Itkin ran against RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
. He and his running mate, former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and a women's right activist. She is a former journalist and a former politician for the Democratic Party. From 1993 to 1995 she was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing...
, lost the election with 31% of the vote.
After politics
Itkin retired from the House following his gubernatorial defeat and was subsequently appointed Director of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management in the Department of EnergyUnited States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 1999.