Tom Sawyer (Kansas politician)
Encyclopedia
Tom Sawyer is an American politician
from the state of Kansas
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
Born in Wichita, Kansas
, Sawyer graduated from Wichita State University with a BBA in Accounting in 1984. Sawyer was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives
in 1987. He became the party's House Leader, and through his 12-year legislative career served as both Majority Leader and Minority Leader. He is only the fourth Democrat to ever be elected Majority Leader of the Kansas House and the only Wichitan to hold that position in the last 30 years.
In 1998 Sawyer won his party's nomination as candidate for governor
, easily beating his next closest rival, the evangelical preacher Fred Phelps
. In the general election, Sawyer lost and only managed to win 23% of the popular vote against popular incumbent Republican governor Bill Graves
.
After serving as State Chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party
for four years, Sawyer was once again elected to the state legislature in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008. He served as chair of the Sedgwick County Legislative Delegation in 2005.
He resigned from the Kansas House of Representatives
in 2009 to serve on the state Parole Board.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Born in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, Sawyer graduated from Wichita State University with a BBA in Accounting in 1984. Sawyer was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
in 1987. He became the party's House Leader, and through his 12-year legislative career served as both Majority Leader and Minority Leader. He is only the fourth Democrat to ever be elected Majority Leader of the Kansas House and the only Wichitan to hold that position in the last 30 years.
In 1998 Sawyer won his party's nomination as candidate for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, easily beating his next closest rival, the evangelical preacher Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps
Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. is an American pastor heading the Westboro Baptist Church , an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas...
. In the general election, Sawyer lost and only managed to win 23% of the popular vote against popular incumbent Republican governor Bill Graves
Bill Graves
William Preston "Bill" Graves , was the 43rd Governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003.Graves was born in Salina, Kansas in 1953 to parents who owned a trucking firm...
.
After serving as State Chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party
Kansas Democratic Party
The Kansas Democratic Party is the state affiliate political party of the United States Democratic Party headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. The State Party Chairman is Joan Wagnon-Overview:...
for four years, Sawyer was once again elected to the state legislature in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008. He served as chair of the Sedgwick County Legislative Delegation in 2005.
He resigned from the Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
in 2009 to serve on the state Parole Board.
Committee membership
- Appropriations
- General Government Budget
- Elections (Ranking Member)
- Rules and Journal (Vice-Chair)
- Joint Committee on Legislative Post Audit
- Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations
Major donors
The top 5 donors to Sawyer's 2008 campaign:- 1. Kansans for Lifesaving Cures $1,000
- 2. Kansas National Education Assoc $1,000
- 3. Kansas Contractors Assoc $1,000
- 4. Koch Industries $900
- 5. Wal-Mart $800
External links
- Official Campaign Site
- Project Vote Smart profile
- Kansas Votes profile
- Campaign contributions: 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008