Knowledgeable, easygoing and able to work effectively across party lines, House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney was a rising Democratic star in Kansas even before the horrific Greensburg tornado leveled his home and community last year and tested his mettle and leadership. It makes sense that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would turn to him to fill the state treasurer’s job, newly open because of Lynn Jenkins’ win of the 2nd Congressional District seat. He will be missed in the House, but his likeliest successor would be Assistant Minority Leader Jim Ward (in photo), D-Wichita. It would be nice to have a Wichitan in that influential spot again, for the first time since Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, left the House to run for governor in 1998.
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18 Comments
Go Jim Ward for this Kansas House Minority position. Good to see Wichitans stepping up.
Wichita should be very proud to have an attorney as a leader with a DUI conviction.
We aren’t all saints like you Brenda.
At least Ward, unlike mckinney, isnt a scum sucking homophobic wingnut.
Jim Ward is on the Jjuvenile oversight committee and has a wife Karen that is over the CSO’s in Juvenile Court – isn’t that a confilct of interest? What were they thinking when they allowed that position? We all know that any problems with juvenile that are brought to Jim Ward don’t go anywhere – he makes sure that nothing is done and passes on whatever information he received.
HE DOESN’T WORK FOR THE PEOPLE!
Why make him more powerful? – he works for the system – not you and me.
The system repays him – look at his DUI.
Herb, is that YOU?
Was Jim ever convicted? And it seems to me that McKinney would have been a choice to run for the 1st District since Moran is running for the Senate
“sunflower5
Posted November 20, 2008 at 7:45 am | Permalink
Wichita should be very proud to have an attorney as a leader with a DUI conviction.”
Ah, the sweet sound of Christian compassion and forgiveness.
Tom – First District could be interesting for McKinney. Perhaps with broader geographic exposure he will get as treasurer he could sprinboard from there?
BTH, but it your going to run for a federal office you should really start raising money and and getting organized now or within the next few months. The gov should be appointing people who plan on running for that office later on, the power of incumbcany and all
Incumbancy? For First District Rep? She doesn’t have an appointment to give there.
Oh – sorry – now I see your point. Someone who will stay at treasurer. My mistake.
The devil will ice skate before the big first elects a democrat to congress.
Western Kansas went for sebelius in her first run for governator. Then she phcuked us over on water, and while I agree with her decision on the holcomb plant, most out here do not.
She’s ensured NO democrats will go to topeka or washington from the big first. Had she not copped the attitude of “there’s not enough votes out there to matter”, perhaps SOME democrat could have succeeded.
As it is? Hell will freeze over first!
Incumbency for state treasurer, McKinney would be an incumbent if he runs as treasurer
farmgrrl, why dont you run?
I will never run for public office. No party wants me :)
Heheheh. Reminds me of the joke “heaven wont have me and hell’s afraid I’ll take over”.
I could NEVER run as a republican. Not after all they have done to harm gay people. And out here? Without an R behind your name, no chance of winning.
And thanks to tim peterson and governor “leadership” that is even MORE true now.
Remember, when I offered to run against virginia beamer, tim peterson told me there was no way the democratic party in kansas would ever support me.
Phcuk ‘em. I dont waste my time on losers.
Having a Wichita legislator in a leadership position will be a benefit to Wichita regardless of what party they are. There are many issues where our urban voice is lost to rural. Jim Ward would be great.
Ward is a good guy.