GOV. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS’ expected departure for the mean streets of the nation’s capital leaves Kansas with a hole in its government. When Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson moves into the governor’s office, the state will be without a lieutenant governor. It will be up to Parkinson to appoint his own replacement.
Although many fine people have held the office, the presence or absence of a lieutenant governor has seldom been of much interest to the people of Kansas. In recent years, governors have had the habit of giving their lieutenants more to do than waiting around in case something happens — sometimes appointing them to cabinet-level jobs to make use of their talents. Otherwise, the lieutenant governor tends to fade into the background.
In spite of that, Parkinson’s choice could set a new course for Kansas politics for the next 10 years.
The departure of Sebelius will remove the state’s best-known and most popular Democrat from Kansas politics. Parkinson will replace her in office, but he cannot replace her as a party leader. He could become a leader over the next two years, but he has already said that he will not be a candidate for governor in 2010. That means that his choice for lieutenant governor has a fair shot at being the party’s candidate for governor in two years.
The Kansas City Star has been playing with a list on its politics Web site, but the list seems to be made up of people many Kansans have never heard of — State Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka, former State Rep. Ed McKechnie of Pittsburg and State Rep. Raj Goyle of Wichita. Others on the list are from the far past — former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery, former Gov. John Carlin and former Regent Jill Docking. Slattery lost badly in a Senate race last year and the two others have been retired from politics for many years.
The only active politician on the list with name recognition is U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, who is reported to be not interested in the idea. Why would a member of Congress give up that power and those perks to become a lieutenant governor?
Surprisingly, a name not on the list is that of Chris Biggs, the Kansas securities commissioner. Biggs has made only one run for statewide office — he challenged Phill Kline for attorney general and lost, but not by much. If Biggs had had more financial support from the state party, he might have won.
Biggs made a lot of friends during his campaign for attorney general. He is smart and likeable and plays guitar well enough to have come in third three years running in the National Flat Pick Championship at Winfield.
Parkinson should keep Biggs in mind when he is making his choice for the state’s next lieutenant governor.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
googleman (anonymous) says...
Glad to have Sebelius OUT of Kansas. Sorry to foist her upon the rest of the nation!
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http://kathleengoodnight.bravehost.com/
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March 7, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )