Carolyn McGinn

legislative Leadership
Current Assignments and Leadership Roles:
Chair Senate Ways & Means Committee
Agriculture & Natural Resource Committee
Ethics & Local Government Committee
Joint Committee on Rules & Regulations
Joint Committee of Building
Senate Rural Caucus
Former Assignments and Leadership Roles:
Senate Ways and Means Committee, 2005-2012, Vice Chair 2009-2010, Chair 2011-2012
Senate Natural Resources Committee, Chair 2005-2011
Senate Utilities Committee, 2009-2011
Senate Local Government Committee, 2009-2010
Senate Judiciary Committee, 2013-2016
Energy and Environment Joint Committee, Chair 2008-2012
Joint Committee on Juvenile Justice Oversight & Correction
Home and Community Based Services Oversight Joint Committee, Chair 2009-2012
Kansas Security Joint Committee, 2005-2012
Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation Board of Directors, 2009-2012
national Appointments
CSG Midwestern Legislative Conference - 2nd Vice President
State Agriculture and Rural Leadership Board of Directors, 2015-Present
Energy Council, Member, 2016-Present
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, Financial Officer
Former Appointments:
Council of State Governments (CSG) Midwest, Co-Chair Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, 2005-2013
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Vice-Chair Energy and Environment Committee, 2009-2013
The Energy Council, Executive Committee Member, 2007-2013
CLEER, Executive Committee Member and Kansas Representative, 2008-2013
CSG Midwestern Radioactive Waste Materials Transportation Committee, 2006-2010
NCSL High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel Working Group, 2005- 2010
boards of Directors &
advisory Committees:
Business Community Involvement
Newton Regional Hospital Advisory Council, 2007-Present
The Kansas African American Museum Board Member
Member of several Sedgwick and Harvey County Chambers of Commerce, 1999-Present
Newton Rotary
Land O' Lakes Executive Council
FORMER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Asbury Park Retirement Community of Newton Board of Trustees, 2012
The Kansas African American Museum Board, 2003-2008, President 2008-2012
YWCA Domestic Crisis Center of Sedgwick County Board, 2007-2012
Kansas Learning Center for Health, 2005-2011
Lower Arkansas Basin Advisory Committee, 2004-2011
Kansas Geological Survey Advisory Committee, Past Vice President
Sand Extraction and Development Study in Intensive Groundwater Areas Task Force, Chair 2004-2006
Kansas Association of Counties Board Member, 2003-2004
Greater Wichita Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, 2002-2004
Wichita Downtown Development Corporation, 2001-2004
Old Cow Town Museum Board Member & Past President, 1998-2004
Kansas Farm Bureau State Committee Member, Natural Resources, 1995-1998
Sedgwick County Farm Bureau, Past President, 1995-1998
Andale Farmers’ Co-op Board, 1993-1998
Carolyn McGinn is a 4th generation resident of the 31st District. She graduated from Valley Center High School and achieved a business degree from Wichita State University before earning a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Friends University.
Carolyn lives with her husband Mark on a family farm outside the town of Sedgwick where they raised two sons. After Mark retired from his 32 year career as an Engineer at Cessna, he and Carolyn began to diversify their traditional grain operation by adding a grape vineyard. They also renovated the family homestead for an extended guest house. This year they have added chickens and hope to continue expanding into food production for fresh markets.
Carolyn first became active in local politics through grassroots landowners’ rights advocacy and Sedgwick Public Schools, where her children attended. She ran for and won a seat on the Sedgwick County Commission in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002. She was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2004 and re-elected in 2008 and 2012.
As an elected representative, at both the County and State levels, Carolyn has strived to balance rural and urban needs. She has also advocated for transparency in budgeting and campaign finance. She is opposed to tax policy that pushes unfunded mandates down on local property owners and is very concerned that small business owners and seniors on fixed incomes will have to bear the brunt of reckless tax and budget decisions by state and federal officials.
snapShot
Occupation
Kansas State Senator
Co-Owner Family Grain Production Farm and Agritourism
Past Employment
Sedgwick County Commissioner, 1998-2004
Sedgwick Public Schools, Jr. High Coach and Substitute teacher, 1995-1998
Crop Insurance Adjuster, Farm Bureau Insurance, 1995-1998
Education
Friends University – Wichita, KS
Master of Science in Environmental Studies, 1998
Wichita State University, Barton School of Business – Wichita, KS
Bachelor of Business Administration, 1983
Degree in Marketing
Valley Center High School – Valley Center, KS, 1977
awards & Recognition
Kansas Mental Health Coalition - Leadership and Collaboration - 2018
Intergovernmental Leadership Award - League of Kansas Municipalities - 2016
Champion for the Cure - 2012
Legislative Champion for Community Mental Health - 2017
Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals - Policy Maker of the Year - 2019
KWF Conservation Legislator of the Year - 2011
Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Public Official of the Year -2008
Kansas Association of Homes and Service to the Aging, Chairs Citation - 2010
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Award for Legislative Excellence - 2011
Sedgwick Commission Award for Service to South Central Kansas as Chair of the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation – 2008
Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award – 2006
The National Council of Negro Women, Leadership & Outreach Legacy Award – 2004
H.O.P.E. Inc., Outstanding Support of H.O.P.E. Inc. – June 15, 2004
Kansas Farm Bureau Natural Resources Award – 1995, 1996, 1997
United Teachers of Wichita Friend of Education – 2011
National Alliance on Mental Illness Kansas Legislative Excellence Award – 2011
Gallery