Ron E. Thornburgh | |
---|---|
29th Secretary of State of Kansas | |
In office January 9, 1995 – February 15, 2010 | |
Governor | Bill Graves Kathleen Sebelius Mark Parkinson |
Preceded by | Bill Graves |
Succeeded by | Chris Biggs |
Personal details | |
Born | [1] Burlingame, Kansas, U.S. | December 31, 1962
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Annette Thornburgh |
Children | 2 |
Residence(s) | Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
Alma mater | Washburn University |
Ron E. Thornburgh, (born December 31, 1962, Burlingame, Kansas) was the 29th Secretary of State of Kansas. He was elected into his first term in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006.[2]
In July 2007, Thornburgh announced his intentions to explore a run for governor of Kansas in 2010 by appointing a state treasurer, which would allow him to begin raising money. He said, "This is a game in which timing is everything. The time feels right for us right now, in that we've got great support around the state of Kansas".[3]
He abandoned his plans for a gubernatorial candidacy after Senator Sam Brownback indicated he would run for the post in the 2010 election. In order to enter the private sector, Thornburgh resigned as Secretary of State of Kansas on February 15, 2010. Democratic Governor Mark Parkinson, a former Republican, appointed Democrat Chris Biggs to the position for the remainder of Thornburgh's term.[4]