Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson
A successful businessman and former legislator, Mark Parkinson 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, Parkinson attended Wichita Public Schools
and graduated from Heights High School, before going on to graduate summa
cum laude from Wichita State University in 1980. He graduated first in his
class from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1984.
Parkinson then entered private practice, going on to form
his own law firm in 1986, and served as president of the Johnson County Bar
Foundation.
Parkinson was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives
in 1990. Two years later he was elected to the Kansas Senate. While in the
Legislature, Parkinson was known as someone who bridged party lines. He worked
to strengthen Kansas schools and enhance local control.
In 1996, Parkinson’s career path focused on a new passion: helping
enhance older Kansans’ quality of life through first-class elder-care
retirement facilities. His company’s assisted living facilities have
received national recognition for their design, and the business has been
named as an outstanding business in Northeast Johnson County.
Parkinson served as chairman of the Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce board
in 2004, and in 2005 was the “Chair of the Chairs” of the six chambers of commerce in Johnson
County. In 2006, he joined Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ ticket for office. He is
now Lt. Governor for the State of Kansas.
Governor Sebelius appointed Parkinson as co-chair of the Kansas Energy Council
and chair of the Kansas Wind Working Group. In the summer of 2007, he launched
Volunteer Kansas to assist in connecting volunteers to service organizations. Parkinson
also serves on the Kansas Mentors Leadership Council, chaired by Coach Bill
Snyder. He continues to lead the BEST efforts, the Governor’s
budget-savings initiative.
Mark and Stacy, his wife of more than 25 years, are active in community and
charitable organizations, including co-chairing the successful Sunflower House
Capital Campaign which raised $4.2 million to support the child abuse assistance
agency. They also completed a $6.7 million Capital Campaign for SAFEHOME, one
of the most comprehensive domestic violence agencies in Kansas. Both
involvements led the United Community Services of Johnson County to
name Mark and Stacy as 2006 Co-Citizens of the Year. They are parents to
three children: Alex, Sam, and Kit. They belong to the United Methodist
Church of the Resurrection in Leawood.
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