2009 Kansas Legislature
PRESENTATION TO THE CHANCELLOR’S POLICY COUNCIL
KATHY DAMRON DECEMBER 19, 2008 Election Overview
SENATE HOUSE y 31 Republicans y 77 Republicans y 9 Democrats y 48 Democrats (loss of 1 Democrat seat) (gain of 1 Democrat seat) Meet the New Legislators New House Members
District 10 – Baldwin City District 19 – Overland Park
Tony Brown Dolores Furtado Democrat Democrat
Tony is a professor Dolores received her at Baker University and bhlbachelor of science from served as a member of Cornell, and her master’s the Baldwin city council and doctoral degrees from 2002-2008. He from the University of Michigan. Fills the seat vacated by Tom Holland, who She is now ret ire d from her pos it ion as a ran a successful campaign for the state professor at KUMC. She fills the seat of Senate. Tim Owens, who ran a successful campaign for the state Senate. New House Members (cont.)
District 22 – Overland Park District 23 – Merriam
Lisa Benlon Milack Talia Democrat Democrat
Lisa previously served 12 Milack holds degrees in years in the state engineering and law. The legislature (1990-2002). policy issues that most After leaving the legislature, Interest him are health she served as the Kansas Government Reform and K-12 education. He fills the Relations Director for the American Cancer seat of Judy Morrison, who did not run Society. She fills the seat of Sue Storm, who again in 2008. ran a successful campaign for the State Board of Education. New House Members (cont.)
District 24 – Mission District 40 – Leavenworth
Mike Slattery Melanie Sanders Meier DtDemocrat Democrat
Mike received his Melanie attended St. Mary’s bachelors degree from College and K U, an d serv ed James Madison Univ. as active duty army as well with an emphasis in as in the reserves. She energy and environmental policy. He has currently works at Ft. Leavenworth as a worked for the Nat’l Institutes of Health defense contractor and serves as an and the Nat’l Human Genome Project. He Inspector General for her reserve unit. is currently a project manager for J.E. She fills the seat vacated by Candy Ruff , Dunn Construction. He defeated Ronnie who did not seek re-election. Metsker in the general election. New House Members (cont.)
District 42 – Tonganoxie District 48 – Overland Park
Connie O’Brien Marvin Kleeb Republican Republican
Connie graduated from St. Marvin grew up in central Mary ’s Coll ege with a B.A . Neb., and now calls Kansas in social studies and home. He owns his own secondary education. business, which helps indiv- She is an active member of iduals who are seeking employment find the par is h a t Sacre d Hear t in Tonganox ie, jobs and is very involved in the KC area has been very active in 4-H and currently business community. He fills the seat works as a substitute teacher. She fills the vacated by Jeff Colyer, who ran a seat vacated by Kenny Wilk, who did not successful campaign for state Senate. seek re-eltilection. New House Members (cont.)
District 49 – Olathe District 57 – Topeka
Scott Schwab Sean Gatewood Republican Democrat
Scott grew up in Great Bend Sean is a student at Washburn and graduated from Ft. Hays University, and has worked in State. He works as medical sales and as a volunteer marketing specialist. firefighter. He is interested in Previously, he served in the Kansas improving the educational system, House from 2003-2006 and vacated that utilizing new energy resources and seat in order to run for Congress. He fills keeping jobs in Kansas. His wife, Trecia is the seat vacated by Ben Hodge, who ran a a pharmacist. He fills the seat vacated by successful campaign for state Senate. Vaughan Flora. New House Members (cont.)
District 59 – Osage City District 70 – Marion
William Prescott Robert Brookens Republican Republican NO PHOTO William grew up in Robert graduated from AVAILABLE Burlingame and grad- Westmoreland High School, uated from Burlingame High the University of Kansas School. He is a farmer by and earned his law degree from trade – running the family farm in Washburn. He is very active in the Boy Wabaunsee County, and has owned small Scouts and the Kiwanis Club and works as businesses and has served as a member of an attorney. He fills the seat vacated by the county commission. He fills the seat Don Dahl. vacated by Joe Humerickhouse. New House Members (cont.)
District 81 – Mulvane District 84 – Wichita
Peter Degraaf Gail Finney Republican Democrat
Pete was born in Holland Gail holds a masters and naturalized as a U. S. cit- degree in business izen at age 8. He graduated administration from from the Air Force Academy and served in Friends University and the Air Force. He is currently the president a bachelors degree from Wichita State. and founder of Shepherd’ s Staff Ministries, She is a small business owner and is a faith-based financial counseling concerned about rising health care costs, organization. He fills the seat vacated by education, and other workforce issues. Ted Powers who passed away earlier this She fills the seat vacated by Oletha Faust- year. Goudeau who ran a successful campaign for state Senate. New House Members (cont.)
District 93 – Garden Plain District 96 – Wichita
Dan Kerschen Phil Hermanson Republican Republican
Dan was born and raised in Phil is currently a human Garden Plain, where he resources manager at continues to live. He is a dairy Coldwell Banker Stuckey & and grain farmer and is very active in the Associates. He served as a deep sea diver organizations that support these industries. in the Navy from 1983-88, is a licensed His wife, Noreen, is a nurse and they have 5 realtor, and a motivational speaker. Phil children. Dan fills the seat vacated by Dick fills the seat vacated by Terry McLachlan. Kelsey. New House Members (cont.)
District 99 - Andover District 101 – Pretty Prairie
Aaron Jack Joe Seiwert Republican Republican Aaron is a financial consultant and fills the seat vacated by Joe is retired from his Ty Masterson. jobs with Southwestern Bell and John Deere and lives on a farm just west of Pretty Prairie where he raises livestock, ggyrain and hay. He is involved with the local school system, his church and other community services. Joe fills the seat vacated by Mark Treaster. New House Members (cont.)
District 118 – Dighton
Don Hineman Republican
Don and his son run Hineman Farms and Hineman Ranch where they produce wheat, grain, sorghum and beef cattle. He is very active in his community – serving as Lane County Commissioner for 16 years. Don fills the seat vacated by Virginia Beamer. New Senate Members
District 3 – Baldwin City District 5 – Kansas City
Tom Holland Kelly Kultala Democrat Democrat Tom has served in the House for 6 years prior to being Kelly was born in elected to the Senate. He lives in Baldwin Leavenworth and holds a City and owns a small business – Holland degree in political science Technologies, Inc. Tom fills the seat from KU. She is the community outreach vacated by Roger Pine who lost in the 2008 organizer for Youthville, an organization general election. that specializes in foster care, adoption and counseling. She fills the seat vacated by Mark Gilstrap, who lost in the 2008 ppyrimary election. New Senate Members (cont.)
District 8 – Overland Park District 10 – Shawnee
Tim Owens Mary Pilcher Cook Republican Republican Tim served in the House from 2001-2008, a seat to which he was Mary served in the House appointed to fill after Phill Kline’s from 2004-2008. She departure. He is an attorney and former served as president of the Archdiocesan active duty Army. He has also served as a Council of Catholic Women from 2003- member and as president of the Overland 20055y. Mary was em pyployed as a software Park city council. Tim fills the seat vacated engineer and in the high-tech financial by Barbara Allen. news industry. She earned her bachelors degree from Avila University. Mary fills the seat vacated by Nick Jordan. New Senate Members (cont.)
District 13 – Fort Scott District 10 – Andover
Bob Marshall Ty Masterson Republican Republican
Bob has most recently been the Ty served in the House from athleti c director at Fort Scott Commun ity 2005-2008. He was born and College, which follows his retirement from raised in Butler County and service in the Marine Corps and many years served as an Andover City Council as a commercial airline pilot. He is very member. He owns his own general ildinvolved in the commun ity – ildiincluding contracting business and is a licensed real service as the chair of the Fort Scott estate agent. Ty fills the seat vacated by Chamber of Commerce. Bob fills the seat Peggy Palmer. vacated by Jim Barone. New Senate Members (cont.)
District 26 – Goddard District 29 – Wichita
Dick Kelsey Oletha Faust-Goudeau Republican Republican
Dick served in the House Oletha, a lifelong Wichitan, from 2005-2008 and is the served in the house since president of King’s Camp & Retreat Center, 2003 and is the first African Inc. He and his wife live in Goddard. Dick American woman to serve fills the seat vacated by Phil Journey. in the Senate. She is an advocate for the disenfranchised and has supported many initiatives that help the less fortunate. Oletha fills the seat vacated by Don Betts. New Senate Members (cont.)
District 32 – Arkansas City District 37 – Overland Park
Steve Abrams Jeff Colyer Republican Republican
Steve earned his degree in Jeff served in the House in veterinary mediidicine from the K-State 2007 and 2008. He earned his and has served on the State Board of M.D. from KU and is one of only 200 Education for 14 years. He also served as plastic surgeons who specialize in chair of the Kansas Republican party and is craniofacial surggyery. He has s pent time active in his c hurc h. Steve fills t he seat around the world working as a surgeon in vacated by Great Goodwin. times of crisis and conflict. Jeff fills the seat vacated by Dennis Wilson House & Senate Leadership House Leadership
Speaker of the House House Minority Leader
Mike O’Neal Paul Davis R-HhiHutchinson D-Lawrence
Rep. O’Neal has Rep. Davis has been a member been a member of the House of the House since 1985 and since 2003 and is an attorney. is an attorney. Senate Leadership
Senate President Senate Vice President
Steve Morris John Vratil R-Hugoton R-LdLeawood
Sen. Morris has Sen. Vratil has been a member been a member of the Senate of the Senate since 1993 and since 1998 and is a farmer. is an attorney. Senate Leadership (cont.)
Senate Minority Leader Assistant Minority Leader
Anthony Hensley Janis Lee D-TkTopeka D-KiKensington
Sen. Hensley has Sen. Lee has been been a member of a member of the the Senate since Senate since 1989 1992 and is a and is a farmer special education and rancher. thteacher. House & Senate Majority Leaders
Senate Majority Leader House Majority Leader
Derek Schmidt Ray Merrick R-IdIndepend ence R-SilStilwe ll
Sen. Schmidt has Rep. Merrick has been a member of been a member of the Senate since the House since 2001 and is an 2000 and owns a attorney. small business. Committee Leadership Senate Committee on Ways and Means
CHAIR Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg
VICE-CHAIRS John Vratil, R-Leawood Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick
RANKING DEMOCRAT Laura Kelly, D-Topeka Senate Education Committee
CHAIR Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita
VICE-CHAIR John Vratil, R-Leawood
RANKING DEMOCRAT Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka House Higher Education Committee
CHAIR Terrie Huntington, R-Fairway
VICE-CHAIR Marc Rhoades, R-Newton
RANKING DEMOCRAT Ann Mah, D-Topeka House Budget Education Committee
CHAIR Joe McLeland, R-Wichita
VICE-CHAIR Clay Aurand, R-Courtland
RANKING DEMOCRAT Tom Sawyer , D-Wichita 20099yg Key Legislative Issues
BUDGET ENERGY/COAL PLANTS HEALTHCARE TAXES TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WORKFORCE SHORTAGE WORKERS COMPENSATION TORT REFORM