Governor, State of Kansas, 2019-present

Former Minority Whip, Kansas State Senate

Former Assistant Minority Leader, Kansas State Senate

Candidate, Governor of Kansas, 2022

Senator, Kansas State Senate, District 18, 2005-2019

Former Member, Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Health Care Stabilization Fund Oversight Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Legislative Post Audit Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Pensions, Investments and Benefits Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Public Health and Welfare Committee, Kansas State Senate

Ranking Minority Member, Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Select Committee on KPERS, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Social Services Subcommittee, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, State Building Construction Committee, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Education, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on General Government and Legislative and Elected Officials, Kansas State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on the Department of Administration, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Transportation and Public Safety Subcommittee, Kansas State Senate

Former Ranking Minority Member, Ways and Means Committee, Kansas State Senate

Director, Recreation Therapy/Physical Education, National Jewish Hospital for Respiratory and Immune Diseases

Recreation Therapist, Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center

Executive Director, Kansas Recreation and Park Association, 1988-2004

Member, Sunflower State Games Board, 1989-present

Member, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Board

Member, Family Service and Guidance Center

Member, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Board

Member, Heartland Visioning Steering Committee

Member, Kansas Children's Cabinet

Member, Kansas Enrichment Network for Out-of-School Time

Member, North Topeka Business Alliance

Delegate, Shawnee County Legislative Delegation

Member, Kansas Leadership Center Board, 2006-2011

Participant, Leadership Greater Topeka, 2003

Awards:

Velma Paris Humanitarian Award, Community Action Inc. (2011)

State Champion, Kansas Head Start Association (2011)

Henry Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments (2010)

Statehouse Champion Award, American Cancer Society (2010)

Legislator of the Year, Kansas Recreation and Park Association (2010)

Outstanding Policy Maker, Oral Health Kansas (2009)

Legislator of the Year, Association for Community Mental Health Centers (2009)

Community Health Champion, Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (2009, 2008, 2006)

Afterschool Champion, Kansas Enrichment Network (2006)

William Penn Mott Jr. Award for Excellence, National Society for Park Resources, National Recreation and Park Association (2000)

Favorite Book:

Anything by John Steinbeck, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Manchild in the Promised Land, Team of Rivals, Master of the Senate, The World is Flat, Bully Pulpit

Favorite Movie:

Grapes of Wrath, Casablanca, The Secret of Rowan Inish, Austin Powers

Favorite Musician:

Laura Nyro, Joan Baez, Norah Jones, John Denver, James Taylor, Blood Sweat & Tears, Martina McBride, Don Williams, Ray Charles

Favorite Quote:

"When it's my time to die, I want to be in the Statehouse, because nothing ever dies in the Statehouse, it just comes back in another form." -Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley

Favorite TV Shows:

The Good Wife, House of Cards, Boston Legal, The West Wing, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, Meet the Press

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Walking, golf, reading & spending as much time as I can with my family