Mark Parkinson (Kansas politician)

For the member of the Missouri House of Representatives, see Mark Parkinson (Missouri politician).

Mark Parkinson
45th Governor of Kansas
In office April 28, 2009 – January 10, 2011
Lieutenant	Troy Findley
Preceded by	Kathleen Sebelius
Succeeded by	Sam Brownback
47th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
In office January 4, 2007 – April 28, 2009
Governor	Kathleen Sebelius
Preceded by	John Moore
Succeeded by	Troy Findley
Personal details
Born	June 24, 1957 (1957-06-24) (age 54) Wichita, Kansas, United States
Political party	Democratic Party (2006–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican Party (Before 2006)
Spouse(s)	Stacy Abbott
Children	Alex Sam Kit
Alma mater	Wichita State University University of Kansas
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Methodism
Website	Official website

Mark V. Parkinson (born June 24, 1957) is the president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 45th Governor of Kansas and a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate.

Early life and career

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 elder care 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.

Party switch

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]

Ascension to governor

In March 2009, Barack Obama announced Governor Sebelius as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.^[3] Sebelius resigned following her confirmation April 28, 2009, and Parkinson was sworn in as Governor of Kansas the same day.^[4] Parkinson stated he would not be a candidate for Governor in 2010.^[5]

During his term as governor, Kansas developed a comprehensive energy policy and a ten-year transportation plan for maintaining the state's infrastructure. Citing his bipartisan support and ability to move the state forward in challenging economic times, The Topeka Capital-Journal named Parkinson "Kansan of the Year" in 2009.^[6]

Elder care

Beginning in 1996, Parkinson helped develop ten elder care facilities in Kansas and Missouri. During this time he served as a founder, developer and chief executive officer of facilities offering skilled nursing care, assisted living, and dementia-related care. He earned national recognition for the design of one of his assisted living facilities, and the title of "Outstanding Business in Northeast Johnson County" for his company.

In late 2010, Parkinson was honored by the Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC) for his work in elder care. Governor Parkinson received the organization’s second annual Caring Award, which is given to recognize exemplary contributions of leadership in providing quality care for frail elders and persons with disabilities in Kansas.^[7]

Parkinson is currently president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL),^[8] which represents more than 11,000 for- and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living residences, and facilities for the care of people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Electoral history

Kansas State House 014 election, 1990[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark Parkinson	2,880	71.73	-
	Democratic	Michael R. Norlen	1,135	28.27	-

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Twiddy, David (2006-05-31). "Kan. Gov. Selects Running Mate for Race". Associated Press (The Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101150.html. Retrieved 2009-02-19. 
2. ^ Moon, Chris (2006-06-02). "Parkinson's party switch causes debate". The Topeka Capital-Journal. http://www.cjonline.com/stories/060206/leg_parkinson.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-19. 
3. ^ "Obama Taps Kansas Gov. Sebelius as Health Secretary". FOXNews.com. 2009-03-01. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/01/heavy-challenges-await-sebelius-accepts-health-chief-post/. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
4. ^ Goldstein, David; Klepper, David (2009-04-28). "Sebelius sworn in to Cabinet, Parkinson becomes Kansas governor". The Kansas City Star. http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1168432.html. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 
5. ^ Baker, Peter; Pear, Robert (2009-02-19). "Kansas Governor Seen as Top Choice in Health Post". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/us/politics/19health.html. Retrieved 2009-02-19. 
6. ^ Carlson, James (2009-12-26). "Meet C-J's Kansan of the Year". The Topeka Capital-Journal. http://cjonline.com/life/2009-12-26/meet_c_js_kansan_of_the_year. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
7. ^ Lehman, Katherine (2010-1018). "AHCA/NCAL Incoming President & CEO Presented Elder Care Award". American Health Care Association. http://www.ahcancal.org/News/news_releases/Pages/AHCANCALIncomingPresidentCEOPresentedElderCareAward.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-04. "Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson, the incoming President & CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) was honored yesterday by the Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC). Governor Parkinson received the organization’s second annual Caring Award." 
8. ^ Lehman, Katherine (2010-0913). "AHCA/NCAL Names Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson as Next President and CEO". American Health Care Association. http://www.ahcancal.org/News/news_releases/Pages/AHCANCALNamesKansasGovernorMarkParkinsonasNextPresidentandCEO.aspx. Retrieved 2011-01-17. "The nation’s largest long term care association, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), today announced that Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson has been selected as its next President and CEO. Governor Parkinson will begin his term with AHCA/NCAL in January following his term in office." 
9. ^ "KS State House 014". KSSOS. 1990-11-06. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=372083. Retrieved 2009-11-06. 

External links

• Office of the Governor Mark Parkinson official state site
• Biography at the National Governors Association
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Kansan of the Year December 26, 2009

Political offices
Preceded by John Moore	Lieutenant Governor of Kansas 2007–2009	Succeeded by Troy Findley
Preceded by Kathleen Sebelius	Governor of Kansas 2009–2011	Succeeded by Sam Brownback

Persondata
Name	Parkinson, Mark
Alternative names
Short description	Governor of Kansas
Date of birth	June 24, 1957
Place of birth	Wichita, Kansas
Date of death
Place of death