Ivan Itkin

Ivan Itkin
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 3, 1995 – November 30, 1998
Preceded by	Mark Cohen
Succeeded by	Mike Veon
In office January 23, 1990 – November 30, 1992
Preceded by	Bill DeWeese
Succeeded by	Mark Cohen
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
Personal details
Born	(1936-03-29) March 29, 1936 New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joyce Hudak
Alma mater	New York University University of Pittsburgh

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.

Early life

Itkin was born in New York City on March 9, 1936. In 1956, he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. Itkin went on to reiceve a master's 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.

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.

Candidate for governor

Main article: Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1998

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.

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1998

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	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.

External links

• PA State Archives: Ivan Itkin