Troy Findley

Troy Findley (born July 11, 1964) is an American politician who served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Kansas from 2009 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed by newly-installed Governor Mark Parkinson. Findley previously served as the Kansas State Representative for the 46th district from 1995 to 2003 and Chief of Staff to the governor of Kansas from 2005 until 2009.

As Kansas Lieutenant Governor, Findley chaired both the Governor's Energy Cabinet Team and Governor's Recovery Act Advisory Group. He was also a member of the Midwest Cancer Alliance Partner Advisory Board. Findley, a moderate, had won election despite nationwide loses for the Democratic Party, specifically in both houses of the United States Congress.

Education and early career Findley was born on July 11, 1964, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was educated in the Lawrence Public Schools and attended Lawrence High School.

During the 1999 budget debate, Findley voted for the 10-year transportation plan that is largely credited for Kansas’ recent number one ranking for having the nation's best highways. In the same session, he crossed party lines to support Republican Governor Bill Graves’ budget, which included the creation of a Children's Trust Fund.

Findley was a member of the House Democratic Leadership Team serving as Policy Chair. His committee assignments included: Financial Institutions and Insurance; Economic Development; Ethics and Elections; Federal and State Affairs; and Taxation. He also served as Ranking Minority Member of the Congressional Redistricting Committee during the 2001–2002 Sessions.

He was elected to his fifth term in the Kansas House of Representatives on November 5, 2002 but declined to take the oath of office in order to work for Governor Sebelius as a Legislative Liaison in January 2003.

Chief of Staff On July 18, 2005 Governor Sebelius appointed Findley as her chief of staff.

Lieutenant Governor of Kansas Appointment

On April 28, 2009, then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed by the United States Senate as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson was sworn in as Kansas's 45th governor on the same day.

On May 14, 2009, Governor Parkinson appointed Findley as the state's 48th lieutenant governor. Parkinson cited Findley's fitness for office and bipartisan record in his remarks at the swearing in ceremony.

Responsibilities

Findley's responsibilities as lieutenant governor include serving as the senior strategic advisor to the governor and, as prescribed by the Kansas Constitution, serving as acting governor when Parkinson is out of the state.

In addition to those responsibilities, Findley chairs both the Governor's Energy Cabinet Team and the Governor's Recovery Act Advisory Group. He is also the Governor's designee to the Midwest Cancer Alliance Partner Advisory Board.

During the 2010 legislative session, the Parkinson-Findley Administration led a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans on a successful effort to balance the budget without additional cuts to schools, Medicaid, law enforcement and other social services.

In the same session, the Parkinson-Findley Administration spearheaded successful efforts to pass a 10-year, $8.4 billion comprehensive transportation plan.

Other significant legislation included passage of primary seatbelt law, a ban on texting while driving, a statewide indoor smoking ban, as well as increased penalties for drunk drivers.

Post Session

In the final months of the Parkinson-Findley Administration, Findley has focused on expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities in Kansas. As chair of the Governor's Energy Cabinet Team, Findley has actively supported efforts to build the transmission lines in Western Kansas that will enable the region to generate and export renewable energy.

The Energy Cabinet Team's final report indicated positive growth in the renewable energy sector during the Parkinson/Findley Administration and encouraged the next administration to continue their pro-renewable energy policies.

Personal Findley lives in Topeka with his wife, Jennifer. They have a son Zachary.

Organizations Chair, Governor's Energy Cabinet Team Governors Designee, Midwest Cancer Alliance Partner Advisory Board Lawrence Chamber of Commerce University of Kansas Alumni Association