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Posted on Mon, May. 04, 2009

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Parkinson fifth Wichitan to lead state

BY BECCY TANNER

The Wichita Eagle

It's been 54 years since Wichita could claim a governor.

Now the city can point to Mark Parkinson, who was born in Wichita and grew up here, though he has lived most recently in Olathe.

Counting Parkinson, Wichita has produced five governors -- more than any other city. Topeka has had four and Lawrence and Leavenworth three each.

Recently, the state's chief executives have come from Atwood, Salina, Smolan and Topeka.

"The state government overwhelmingly tends to be rural," said Jay Price, director of the public history program at Wichita State University.

"The thinking is 'Real Kansans are rural.' If you are from the city, you aren't really Kansan. You have to have a connection with the farm. Wichita just doesn't do it."

Blame it on generations of populist Kansans, whose grassroots beliefs are for people not political systems.

"The populist spirit still lingers and pops up in people not trusting those from a big town," said Robert Linder, professor of history at Kansas State University. "The aircraft industry has attracted people from a lot of places. It seems radically different from farmers and small town people."

Take into consideration Mike Hayden's thoughts on how he was elected the state's 41st governor, defeating Wichitan Tom Docking in 1986.

Hayden's hometown is Atwood, in the northwestern corner of Kansas.

"It's a matter of geography and politics," Hayden said.

People in western Kansas more readily identify with Wichita than they do the state capital -- Topeka -- because so much of their news comes from Wichita radio and television stations.

"One of the things people used to mention to me is they'd watch the news. And a lot of the local news has to do with crime," Hayden said. "The truth of it is it's unfair. But when they think of Wichita, that's what they think. It's a lot easier to get somebody to vote for you if you are from Atwood, Dodge City or Liberal."

But Ken Ciboski, a political science professor at WSU, said it may also be because Wichita hasn't produced many candidates who've earned the name recognition that comes with having key leadership positions.

For example, Kathleen Sebelius served as the state's insurance commissioner before becoming governor; Bill Graves served as Kansas' secretary of state; and Hayden was speaker of the House. "Who from Wichita has been in a leadership position?" Ciboski said. "Nobody has gone into the legislative body or held important leadership positions."

There are exceptions. Tom Docking was the lieutenant governor. Bob Stephan and Vern Miller were state attorneys general.

Stephan was considered a likely contender for governor but dropped out amid publicity from a sexual harassment lawsuit and perjury charges in late 1985, when his popularity was at an all-time high.

"If that hadn't have come out, Bob Stephan would have become governor, I think a two-term governor," Ciboski said. "No question about it. That man could work an audience like no one else could."

Miller lost to Bob Bennett in 1974, in part, Ciboski said, because Miller didn't seem to voters to be as polished as Bennett.

"Miller was known for popping out of car trunks on drug raids, while Bennett came across like a college professor," Ciboski said.

Beccy Tanner at 316-268-6336 or btanner@wichitaeagle.com.