Parkinson may fill governorship

By Betsy Cutcliff

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is rumored to be at the top of President Barack Obama’s list of candidates for Health and Human Services Secretary. If chosen, Sebelius would head to Washington and leave the state in the hands of Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson.

News about Sebelius possibly replacing Tom Daschle as nominee for HHS Secretary began buzzing when she visited with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on a routine trip to Washington. While the governor’s office in Topeka hasn’t announced anything, the Associated Press reported that Sebelius was a top contender for the position. Bolstered by her strong ties with women’s rights and eight years experience as Kansas insurance commissioner, AP said she would be Obama’s second choice for the vacancy.

As of right now, the staff in the governor’s office has no knowledge of possibly being given a new boss.

“As far as staff members are concerned, we work for the state as usual,” Stacy Elmer, Topeka graduate student, said. Elmer works in Sebelius’ office and said she could not comment on the possibility of Sebelius moving to Washington.

Should the move happen, David Gottlieb, professor of law and Parkinson’s former instructor, said he had confidence Parkinson would make a good governor.

“I think he’s someone who’s been very well-respected on both sides of the aisle his whole career,” Gottlieb said.

Parkinson graduated from the University’s School of Law in 1984 at the top of his class and moved on to private practice. His political career began when he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1990 and then to the Kansas Senate in 1992. He joined Governor Sebelius’ ticket for office in 2006, and was recently appointed as Chairman of the Governor’s Military Council, which advises any Kansas military actions ordered by the Department of Defense.

Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, said that the clear line of succession made transitions smooth, and that Parkinson would have no trouble functioning as governor. Loomis said Kansas citizens would probably not notice any sort of direct change if the shift in leadership occurred.

While Sebelius announced in early December that she wasn’t considering any cabinet positions and wanted to focus on Kansas’ budget problems, Loomis said she would be an ideal candidate for HHS Secretary.

“She has been extraordinarily interested in health care, and has eight years as insurance commissioner under her belt,” Loomis said.

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