Senator Ethan Roark Sr. is a rich, corrupt politician, who holds most of Basin City in his grip. These privileges are inherited by his son, Roark Junior.
Senator Roark murdered his wife with a baseball bat, for which he was never arrested, even though (by his own admission) he left his fingerprints all over the crime scene. He also is the brother of Cardinal Roark; his other brother serves as an Attorney General (not featured).