Laura Kelly was sworn in as the 48th governor of the State of Kansas on January 14, 2019.

Laura grew up in a career military family where she learned the importance of service, integrity and accountability. She has made it her life’s work to fight for children and families on the job, in her community, and as a four-term state senator.

As the long-time leader of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association, Laura advocated for public parks across the state. She was a leading voice in promoting healthy families and communities and improving the quality of life in Kansas through top-notch parks and recreation services. In earlier jobs, she fought to improve mental health services and helped patients live healthy, more productive lives.

Laura was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2004. She immediately built a reputation as a no-nonsense leader who could work with anyone to get things done. After just two years, she was asked to serve as the Ranking Minority member of the important Ways and Means Committee. She has advocated for fiscally responsible, balanced budgets that still reflect the priorities of Kansas communities, like schools, health care, roads and public safety. Laura was a key player in the establishment and funding of the Early Childhood Development Block Grants, which have helped thousands of Kansas children enter kindergarten ready to learn.

As governor, Laura will bring people together to rebuild Kansas and increase the efficiency of state government. She will work to expand early childhood education and public school funding to give all Kansas kids – no matter where they live – the opportunity to succeed. She will work with lawmakers to expand Medicaid to make affordable healthcare more accessible and support rural hospitals and clinics. And she will balance the budget without new taxes.

Laura is ready to bring people together and lead Kansas in the next chapter.

Laura and her husband Ted Daughety, a doctor of pulmonary and sleep disorders, live in Topeka and have been married for 36 years. They have two grown daughters, Kathleen and Molly Daughety.

Derek Schmidt was elected the 44th attorney general of Kansas in 2010 and was reelected in 2014 and 2018. He is the second longest-serving attorney general in Kansas history.

Under Attorney General Schmidt’s leadership, the office has focused on prosecuting crimes against children, protecting senior citizens from scams and rip-offs, recovering record-setting amounts of money for Kansas consumers and taxpayers, providing professional legal services for the State of Kansas, and standing up against illegal overreach by the federal government.

Attorney General Schmidt has personally and successfully argued two Kansas murder cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has led the successful efforts to strengthen Kansas law against human trafficking, to toughen penalties for defrauding senior citizens and for stealing from taxpayers, to build a modern forensic science laboratory for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, to strengthen consumer-privacy laws, and to improve investigation of crimes against children.

Schmidt has been honored with the Criminal Justice Professional of the Year Award from the Wichita Crime Commission, the Friend of Law Enforcement Award from the Kansas Sheriffs Association, the Policy Maker of the Year Award from the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association, and the Guardian of Small Business Award from the Kansas chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He served as the 2017-2018 president of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Before being elected attorney general, Schmidt served as a Kansas State Senator representing part of Southeast Kansas, as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and as the Senate Majority Leader. He previously served as counsel to Kansas Governor Bill Graves, legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and as an assistant attorney general for consumer protection.

Attorney General Schmidt is a graduate of Independence High School and studied at Independence Community College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, his master’s degree in international politics from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, and his doctorate in law from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Schmidt and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of two daughters.

The Seeber File

Ron Seeber is the President and CEO of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA).  Established in 1896, the KGFA is a voluntary state association with a membership encompassing the entire spectrum of the grain receiving, storage, processing and shipping industry in the state of Kansas.  KGFA’s membership includes over 950 Kansas business locations and represents 99% of the commercially licensed grain storage in the state.  Ron is has been with the KGFA since 2008 and the President since 2017.  He is only the 6^th President to serve in the association’s 123 year history.

In his role, Ron directs the vision, mission and strategy of the membership-based organization, advocating for Kansas agribusiness by creating a sustainable business climate through collaborative policy leadership, continuous education and effective communication.  He is responsible for maintaining and nurturing a professional relationship with government, other associations, allied industry, educational institutions and the general public as necessary and in the best interest of the association and for attainment of its objectives.

Ron Seeber is a native Kansan, grew up in El Dorado, and earned a Political Science Degree from the University of Kansas. After graduating in 1991, he worked for Senator Bob Dole in Washington, DC until 1996.  Ron then returned home and worked as the Deputy Secretary of Administration for Governor Bill Graves, Political Director of the Kansas Republican Party, and as a lobbyist for a law firm representing over 30 different companies, associations, and a Native American tribe.

Ron Seeber and wife, Jennifer, have three daughters, a labradoodle and an insane cat.

The Stookey File

Randy Stookey was promoted to senior vice president after serving as the association’s general counsel since November 2011. Stookey is the lead lobbyist for the Associations and the contact for government affairs stakeholders from member companies and for lobbying clients. During the Legislative Session, Stookey monitors and responds to all bills of consequence for the industry. In addition, Stookey assists in the management of the Kansas Agri Business Council, the Associations’ Joint Political Action Committee.

Stookey is responsible for keeping current on all issues affecting the agribusiness industries and remaining knowledgeable on the regulations and laws pertaining to the grain and feed, fertilizer and agrichemical industries. Stookey is also the staff contact for Legislative Committees. As General Counsel, Stookey assists the President, Executive staff, Board, and membership with addressing legal questions and compliance issues.