Mark Parkinson
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| Mark Parkinson | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2007 |
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| Governor | Kathleen Sebelius |
| Preceded by | John E. Moore |
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| Born | June 24, 1957 Wichita, Kansas |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Stacy Abbott Parkinson |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Mark V. Parkinson (born June 24, 1957) is an American lawyer, businessman, and Democratic politician who is the current Lieutenant Governor of Kansas.
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[edit] Background
A successful businessman and former legislator, Mark is a native Kansan who grew up in Wichita and now resides in Olathe. Mark's family has its roots in Scott City, where they still operate a family farm.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, Mark 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. Mark then entered private practice, forming his own law practice of Parkinson, Foth & Orrick.
In 1996, Mark left his law practice to develop assisted living facilities.
[edit] Political career
Parkinson entered Kansas politics as a Republican in 1990. He served in the Kansas state house from 1991-1992 and the senate from 1993-1997. From 1999-2003 he was Chairman of the Kansas Republican Party. 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.
On May 31, 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). Parkinson's business experience and proven track record of working with both Republicans and Democrats were the reasons Sebelius gave for choosing him.
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." 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 said, "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]
In light of the resignation of Kansas Attorney General Paul J. Morrison, Parkinson has been mentioned[who?] as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2010.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Twiddy, David. "Kan. Gov. Selects Running Mate for Race". Associated Press. May 31, 2006
- Klepper, David. "Sebelius-Parkinson ticket is talk of two parties". Kansas City Star. June 1, 2006
| Preceded by John E. Moore |
Lieutenant Governor of Kansas 2007— |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
