He returned to Maine to work at his alma mater as director of housing in 1980 before formally entering politics in November 1993.
Two years into his mayoral tenure, he ran and eventually unseated an incumbent legislator to become a member of the Maine Senate representing the 21st district.
After a brief hiatus to become a business consultant and a motivational speaker, he entered the 2007 mayoral race for Auburn eventually winning it as a write-in candidate.
"[2] Two years into his mayoral tenure in 1995, he ran and eventually unseated an incumbent legislator to become a member of the Maine Senate representing the 21st district.
After finishing his terms as mayor of Lewiston and state senator he took a hiatus from politics to become a business consultant and motivational speaker.
[2][4] In August 2010, Jenkins announced his write-in candidacy for the 2010 Maine gubernatorial election after the current incumbent governor, John Baldacci, was term-limited.
As an unregistered contender he competed directly with the Independent candidate Eliot R. Cutler, Democrat Libby Mitchell, and Republican Paul LePage.