Mark Parkinson
Mark Parkinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 47th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2007 | |
| Governor | Kathleen Sebelius |
| Preceded by | John E. Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 24, 1957 Template:City-state |
| Political party | Democratic (2006-present), previously Republican |
| Spouse | Stacy Abbott Parkinson |
| Residence | Template:City-state |
| Alma mater | Wichita State University (B.A., 1980), University of Kansas (J.D., 1984) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Kansas Lt. Governor - Mark Parkinson |
Mark V. Parkinson (born June 24, 1957) is an American lawyer, businessman, and Democratic politician who serves as the 47th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas.
Background
Parkinson was born in Wichita, Kansas, into a family which has its roots in Scott City, where they still own a farm. Parkinson graduated from Wichita Heights High School before graduating Summa Cum Laude from Wichita State University in 1980 and finishing first in his class at the University of Kansas Law School in 1984. Parkinson then entered private practice, forming his own law practice of Parkinson, Foth & Orrick. In 1996, Parkinson left his law practice to develop assisted living facilities.
Political career
Parkinson entered Kansas politics as a Republican in 1990. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1992 and the Kansas Senate from 1993 to 1997.[1] From 1999 to 2003 he was Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.[1] In 2004 he served as chairman of the Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce board, and in 2005, served as the "Chair of the Chairs" of the six Chambers of Commerce in Johnson County.
In May 2006, Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced that Parkinson had switched parties and was her running mate for her reelection campaign, succeeding retiring lieutenant governor John E. Moore (also a former Republican who had switched parties shortly before he joined a ticket with Sebelius).[1] Parkinson's business experience and track record of working with both Republicans and Democrats were the reasons Sebelius gave for choosing him.[1]
The Kansas Republican Party immediately labeled Parkinson a hypocrite, citing 2002 quotes where Parkinson called Sebelius a "left-wing liberal Democrat" and claimed that any Republicans who supported her were "either insincere or uninformed."[1] Parkinson responded to the criticism by saying he had doubted Sebelius four years earlier, but came to believe she provided "independent leadership" for the state. He stated: "In an age where leaders duck responsibility and dodge their mistakes let me be the first to say: I was wrong."[1] Some viewed his switch as opportunism; others felt his decision was another example of the bitter divide between moderates and conservatives in the Kansas Republican Party, and that the move encouraged more moderate Republican voters to move closer to the Democratic Party.[2]
On March 2, 2009, Barack Obama announced Governor Sebelius as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.[3] If confirmed, she would have to resign as governor, making Parkinson the 45th and next Governor of Kansas for the remainder of her second term, ending in January 2011. Parkinson stated he would not be a candidate for Governor in 2010.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Twiddy, David (2006-05-31). "Kan. Gov. Selects Running Mate for Race". Associated Press. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ Moon, Chris (2006-06-02). "Parkinson's party switch causes debate". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ Obama Taps Kansas Gov. Sebelius as Health Secretary
- ^ Baker, Peter (2009-02-19). "Kansas Governor Seen as Top Choice in Health Post". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
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