Gail Finney | |
---|---|
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 84th district | |
In office January 1, 2009 – August 20, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Oletha Faust-Goudeau |
Succeeded by | Ford Carr |
Personal details | |
Born | (1959-08-16)August 16, 1959 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
Died | August 20, 2022(2022-08-20) (aged 63) |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Jerrold Finney |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | |
Gail Finney (August 16, 1959 – August 20, 2022) was an American businesswoman and politician who was a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives, who represented the 84th house district from 2009 until her death in 2022.
Background
Finney was born in Wichita, Kansas. She was a graduate of Southeast High School, had a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University and an MBA from Friends University. She was a business owner.
Political career
Finney served on the Wichita Chamber of Commerce's Visioneering Racial, Diversity, Opportunities, and Harmony Board; the District 1 Advisory Board, Precinct Committee Woman, and the Governor's Kansas African American Advisory Commission.
Issue positions
On her website, Finney listed her legislative priorities as:
- Ensuring a quality education for all Kansas children,
- Bringing the cost of health care and prescription drugs down,
- Working with all levels of government and the private sector to grow our economy and expand our job base.
2016 committee memberships
Her assignments for the 2015–2016 Session Committees were:
- House Appropriations
- House Corrections and Juvenile Justice
- House Transportation and Public Safety Budgets, Ranking Democrat
Sponsored legislation
- H 5003 Kansas constitutional amendment; equal rights; no discrimination based on sex. January 23, 2009
- H 5014 Expanded rail service; Kansas City to Fort Worth, Texas; congratulating Kansas Department of Transportation and others; urging action. March 17, 2009
- In February 2014, it was discovered that Finney wants Kansas caregivers (including teachers and parents) to be allowed to spank children to the point of bruising without consequence.
Major donors
The top 5 donors to Finney's 2008 campaign were mostly individual donors:
- 1. Finney, Gail $4,991
- 2. Kansas Contractors Assoc $750
- 3. Kansans for Lifesaving Cures $750
- 4. Finney Jr, Jerrold $500
- 5. Finney Sr, Jerrold $500
Death
After a series of health problems, Finney died on August 20, 2022, aged 63. She had undergone a kidney transplant earlier in the year. She was posthumously given the key to the city of Wichita.
References
- ^ Rep. Gail Finney Meet Gail Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ^ Bahl, Andrew (August 20, 2022). "Longtime Wichita Rep. Gail Finney dies at 63. She was remembered by colleagues as a 'warrior.'". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- Rep. Gail Finney- Homepage Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- "Bills Introduced by Member". Kansas Legislature. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- "Kansas bill would allow spanking that leaves marks". USA Today. AP. February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- Celia Llopis-Jepsen, Proposed bill would allow teachers to spank children up to 10 times with hand The Topeka Capital-Journal February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- Kan. Bill Would Let Teachers, Caregivers Spank Kids Harder KMOV February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- Teachers could spank harder under bill pending in KS Legislature KCTV February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- Follow the Money – 2008 Campaign Contributions Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- "Gail Finney posthumously given Key to City of Wichita". KSN-TV. September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Kansas Legislature – Gail Finney
- Project Vote Smart profile
- Kansas Votes profile
- Campaign contributions: 1998, 2008
- 1959 births
- 2022 deaths
- 20th-century American businesswomen
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- African-American women in business
- African-American state legislators in Kansas
- 21st-century African-American women politicians
- Businesspeople from Kansas
- Friends University alumni
- Democratic Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives
- Politicians from Wichita, Kansas
- Wichita Southeast High School alumni
- Wichita State University alumni
- Women state legislators in Kansas
- 21st-century members of the Kansas Legislature