Troy Findley

Findley was born on July 11, 1964, in Lawrence, Kansas. He was educated in the Lawrence Public Schools and attended Lawrence High School.[2]

Findley attended the University of Kansas and graduated in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He received his real estate license from the Kansas Association of Realtors in 1995.[2]

Following college, Findley held a number of positions in Kansas politics and later worked at UMB Bank in Lawrence.[2]

Findley was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives on November 8, 1994 to represent District 46, which includes parts of Douglas County. He replaced retiring, longtime State Representative Betty Jo Charlton and was subsequently elected to five consecutive terms.[2]

In the Kansas House, Findley led efforts to initiate early childhood education programs for at-risk four-year-olds and to establish multi-year financing for public schools. Concerned with the rising cost of a college education, Findley also authored legislation to tie increases in tuition to increases in the state's grant program.[2]

Findley also co-sponsored legislation to create a Kansas version of the Earned Income Tax Credit, similar to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1975, which helps ease the burden of income taxes on low-income families.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[2]

Upon her ascension to the governorship, Kathleen Sebelius hired Findley as her Legislative Liaison to the Kansas House of Representatives.[2]

While Findley served in this capacity, the Sebelius Administration shepherded through government austerity and efficiency measurers that eliminated the state's $1.1 billion deficit, without raising taxes.[6]

On July 18, 2005 Governor Sebelius appointed Findley as her chief of staff.[2]

In this capacity, Findley was responsible for policy development and implementation.

During the 2006 legislative session, the Sebelius Administration led efforts that resulted in the largest increase in K-12 education funding in state history.

Findley's responsibilities also included serving as the Governor's chief liaison on emergency management matters. In 2007, Kansas was impacted by a series of major weather-related disasters ranging from ice storms, to floods and tornadoes. On May 4, 2007, an F5 tornado devastated the town of Greensburg, Kansas. Findley assisted in the state government's response. With encouragement from the Sebelius Administration, the residents of Greensburg embarked on an effort to rebuild their town using renewable and efficient building methods.[7]

Findley lives in Topeka with his wife, Jennifer. They have a son, Zachary.[2]

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

• http://www.governor.ks.gov
• Appearances on C-SPAN