From Ballotpedia
Ron Thornburgh (born December 31, 1962, in Burlingame, Kansas) is the current Republican Secretary of State of Kansas. He was first elected in 1994 and was subsequently re-elected in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In July 2007, Thornburgh took the first steps toward seeking the Republican nomination in the state gubernatorial race by appointing a treasurer for a potential campaign.[1] After polling showed him losing the Republican primary to Senator Sam Brownback, he announced in June 2009 that he would be dropping out of the race and that he would not seek a fifth term as Secretary of State.[2]
Education
- Bachelor's degree, Washburn University (1985) in criminal justice
- Graduate, Leadership Kansas Class (1993)
Professional experience
Prior to being elected to the office of Secretary of State, Thornburgh served as Deputy Assistant in the Kansas Secretary of State Election and Legislative Matters Division for three years beginning in 1987. In 1990, he was the Administration Deputy Assistant in the Kansas Secretary of State Office then moved up to the Assistant Secretary of State position the next year, holding the office for three years.
Other roles
- Founder/President, Drug Education for Youth (1994-2003)
- Participant, Toll Fellow Program (1995)
- Board Member, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) (1998-2003)
- Honorary Chairman, Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run (1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005)
- Board Member, Saint Johns Military Academy (1999-2003)
- Member, Association of the United States Army State Board
- Executive Committee Member, Council of State Governments
- Clearinghouse Advisory Panel Member, Federal Election Commission
- Member, First United Methodist Church
- Vice-Chairman of Marketing, Executive Council, Jayhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts of America
- Honorary Board Member, Kids Voting Kansas
- Past President/Executive Committee, National Association of Secretaries of State
- Member, Sons of American Legion
- Advisory Committee Member, United Way
- Member, United Way Success by Six Steering Committee
- Member, Washburn University Alumni Fellow
Electoral history
| 1998 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[3]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
 Ron Thornburgh (R)
| 63.8%
|
| Don M. Rezac (D)
| 27.4%
|
| Sandra J. Boehr (Taxpayers)
| 6.7%
|
| Steve Rosile (Libertarian)
| 2.1%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
| 2002 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[4]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Ron Thornburgh (R)
| 65.5%
|
| David Haley (D)
| 31.9%
|
| Charles St. George (F)
| 2.6%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - Republican Primary[5]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Ron Thornburgh (R)
| 72.7%
|
| Kay O'Connor (R)
| 27.3%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
| 2006 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[6]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Ron Thornburgh (R)
| 63.9%
|
| David Haley (D)
| 31.9%
|
| Rob Hodgkinson (Libertarian)
| 2.6%
|
| Joseph L. Martin (Reform)
| 1.7%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
Family life
Ron Thornburgh currently resides in Topeka, Kansas with their two children, Grey and Tanner. He is a practicing Methodist.
Awards
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Digital Government “Agent of Change” Award (2002)
- Lee Ann Elliott Election Excellence Award (2004) from Kids Voting USA
- Jim Edwards Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the Year Award (2005)
- Leaders in Learning Award (2005)
- Mike Harder Public Administrator of the Year Award (2006) from the American Society for Public Administration - Kansas Chapter
Contact Information
Kansas Secretary of State
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
(785) 296-4564
External links
References
- ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal "Thornburgh mulls gubernatorial run" 31 July, 2007
- ↑ Kansas City.com Prime Buzz "Thornburgh out of KS governor's race, will not seek re-election" 15 June, 2009
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State - 1998 General Election Results
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State - 2002 General Election Results
- ↑ U.S. Election Atlas - 2006 Secretary of State Republican Primary Election Results
- ↑ The Green Papers - 2006 General Election Results
Ron Thornburgh (R)
