24 Facts About Mark Parkinson

Mark Vincent Parkinson was born on June 24,1957 and is an American businessman and former politician serving as head of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

Mark Parkinson served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Kansas from 2007 to 2009 and the 45th governor of Kansas from 2009 until 2011.

Parkinson was born in 1957 in Wichita, Kansas, to a family with roots in Scott City, where Parkinson still owns a farm.

Mark Parkinson won the national moot court championship during law school.

In 1996, Mark Parkinson left his law practice to develop elder care facilities in Kansas and Missouri.

Mark Parkinson served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1993.

Mark Parkinson served in the Kansas Senate from 1993 to 1997.

Mark Parkinson wrote legislation to facilitate the consolidation of the Wyandotte County government.

Mark Parkinson stood out for opposing a bill that would have banned flag burning.

Mark Parkinson declined to run for reelection to the state senate in 1996.

Mark Parkinson secured this role in part from the support of Governor William Graves.

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, a former Republican who had switched parties shortly before he joined a ticket with Sebelius.

Mark Parkinson served as co-chairman of the Kansas Energy Council.

In 2008, Mark Parkinson participated in a delegation of lieutenant governors on a trade mission to China.

Sebelius resigned as governor of Kansas following her confirmation on April 28,2009; Mark Parkinson was sworn in as governor the same day.

Mark Parkinson stated he would not be a candidate in the 2010 election and was succeeded by Sam Brownback.

Mark Parkinson implemented a smoking ban that included public places; taxicabs and limousines; common areas in public and private buildings, condominiums and other multiple-residential facilities and entries to most buildings.

Mark Parkinson signed legislation to create a private cause of action for victims of child pornography.

Mark Parkinson lobbied the governors of Missouri and Nebraska to preserve the Big 12 Conference.

Mark Parkinson led a trade mission to Taiwan and another to mainland China.

In late 2010, Mark Parkinson was honored by Kansas Advocates for Better Care for his work in elder care.

Mark 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.

The group represented about 9,000 facilities when Mark Parkinson joined the association.

Mark Parkinson has been recognized as a "Top Lobbyist" by The Hill in 2013 and over the next seven years.