Samantha Kerkman (' Starzyk; born March 6, 1974) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

politician. She is the county executive of

Kenosha County, Wisconsin Kenosha County () is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,151, and was estimated to be 168,754 in 2024, making it the eighth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its c ...

, serving since April 2022. She previously represented Kenosha County in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

from 2001 through 2022.

Early life and career

Samantha Kerkman was born Samantha Starzyk in

Burlington, Wisconsin Burlington is a city in Racine and Walworth counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, with the majority of the city located in Racine County. The population of the city was 11,047 as of the 2020 census. History Prior to the arrival of Europea ...

. She graduated from Wilmot Union High School and attended the

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (UW–Whitewater or UWW) is a public university in Whitewater, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System. As of Fall 2024, the university offers 47 undergraduate majors ...

, where she earned a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

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in 1996.

Political career

While in college, Kerkman began working as an intern and

legislative assistant A legislative assistant (LA), legislative analyst, legislative research assistant, or legislative associate, is a person who works for a legislator as a legislative staffer in a semi-political partisan capacity, in a non-partisan capacity at a th ...

in the office of State Representative Cloyd A. Porter, and, after graduating, was named his chief of staff. She also began volunteering with the

Randall, Wisconsin Randall is a town in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,285 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated community of Bassett and census-designated place of Powers Lake are located in Randall, and the town surrounds the v ...

, Fire Department Auxiliary. When Porter announced in 2000 that he would not seek reelection to a 15th term, Kerkman chose to enter the race to replace him. Porter quickly endorsed his former legislative aide, saying, "I think Samantha has made an excellent decision. I am confident that Samantha has the strength, energy, and the dedication to serve the people of the 66th to her full potential." She prevailed in the Republican

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with 85% of the vote and went on to take 61% of the general election vote against Democrat Virgil Gentz. Kerkman was subsequently reelected five times in the 66th assembly district, and, after

redistricting Redistricting in the United States is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries. For the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures, redistricting occurs after each ten-year census. The U.S. Constitution in Art ...

in 2013, Kerkman has been serving in what is now the 61st assembly district. On April 5, 2022, Kerkman was elected

Kenosha County Kenosha County () is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 169,151, and was estimated to be 168,754 in 2024, making it the eighth-most populous county in Wisconsin. Its co ...

Executive. She assumed office on April 18, 2022.

Personal life and family

Samantha Starzyk took the last name Kerkman in 2001, when she married attorney Chad Kerkman. They have two children and divorced in 2013.

References

External links

* https://www.kenoshacounty.org/144/County-Executive * https://www.votesamanthakerkman.com/ * https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-kerkman-5561656 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kerkman, Samantha University of Wisconsin ndash;Whitewater alumni Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Women state legislators in Wisconsin 1974 births Living people 21st-century American women politicians People from Burlington, Wisconsin People from Randall, Wisconsin 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature