Ivan Itkin

Ivan Itkin
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
In office
January 2, 1973 – November 30, 1998
Preceded by Gerald Kaufman
Succeeded by Dan Frankel
Democratic Leader of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 5, 1993 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by Bill DeWeese
Succeeded by Bill DeWeese
Democratic Whip of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 23, 1990 – November 30, 1992
Preceded by Bill DeWeese
Succeeded by Mark Cohen
In office
January 3, 1995 – November 30, 1998
Preceded by Mark Cohen
Succeeded by Mike Veon
Personal details
Born March 29, 1936 (1936-03-29) (age 75)
New York City
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Judith Ann [1]
Alma mater Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn
New York University
University of Pittsburgh
Occupation Nuclear scientist,
Applied mathematician,
Politician

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.

Contents

Early life

Itkin was born in New York City on March 9, 1936.[2] 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[3] 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.[4]

Political career

PA House

Itkin held a variety of leadership positions with the House's Democratic caucus. He served as majority whip 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.[5]

Candidate for governor

Itkin ran against Republican incumbent Tom Ridge. He and his running mate, former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, lost the election with 31% of the vote.[6]

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1998[7]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Tom Ridge
Runningmate: Mark Schweiker
1,736,844 57.42%
Democratic Ivan Itkin
Runningmate: Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
938,745 31.03%
Constitution Peg Luksik
Runningmate :Jim Clymer
315,761 10.04%
Libertarian Ken Krawchuk
Runningmate: Henry Haller III
33,591 1.11%

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 Energy by President Bill Clinton in 1999.[8]

References

External links

Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by
Gerald Kaufman
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 23rd District
1973–1998
Succeeded by
Dan Frankel
Party political offices
Preceded by
Mark Singel
Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania
1998 (lost)
Succeeded by
Ed Rendell
Preceded by
Mark Cohen
Democratic Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1995–1998
Succeeded by
Mike Veon
Preceded by
Bill DeWeese
Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1993–1994
Succeeded by
Bill DeWeese
Preceded by
Bill DeWeese
Democratic Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
1990–1992
Succeeded by
Mark Cohen