Jean Schodorf

Jean Schodorf
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 25th district
In office
2001–2013
Succeeded by Michael O'Donnell
Personal details
Political party Democratic (2013-present)
Other political
affiliations		 Republican (until 2013)
Residence Wichita, Kansas
Alma mater University of New Mexico
Profession speech pathologist

Jean Kurtis Schodorf, a former three-term Republican state senator, was the Democratic Party nominee for Kansas Secretary of State in 2014. She was defeated on November 4, 2014 by incumbent Kris Kobach in the general election for Secretary of State 59-41 percent.[1]

Early life

Schodorf was born to Wilma Mary Horton (1911–2002) and William A. Kuretich (Croatian: Kuretić), of Croatian origin (1914–2001), a U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general and decorated veteran of World War II. Her father’s military career included extensive travel for his family. Upon his retirement, the family settled in Independence, Kansas. She is the sister of attorney and television journalist Bill Kurtis.

Education

Schodorf is a speech/language pathologist and graduated from University of New Mexico (Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science) and Wichita State University (Ph.D. in Communicative Disorders, post-doctoral work in education administration).

Political career

From 1989 to 2000, she was on the Board of Education for Unified School District 259 (Wichita School District) and was the board president in 1993, 1997 and 1999.

She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 25th District in Wichita, from 2001 to 2013.

In 2010, Schodorf was a candidate for U.S Representative of the 4th district, being vacated by Todd Tiahrt.

In the 2012 Republican Primary. Senator Schodorf, and seven other moderates were opposed by Governor Sam Brownback, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the Koch brothers.[2] At the time, she was the Majority Whip. She was defeated August 7, 2012, in her attempt to be re-elected to the Kansas State Senate by Wichita City Council member Michael O'Donnell, 59 percent to 41 percent.[3][4]

In January 2013, Schodorf changed her party affiliation to Democrat.[5][6]

Committee assignments

Sen. Schodorf served on these legislative committees:[7]

Sponsored legislation

Legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Sen. Schodorf includes:

Major donors

Some of the top contributors to Sen. Schodorf's 2008 campaign were, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics[10] the Kansas Realtors Association, Kansas Contractors Association, Kansas Republican Senatorial Committee, Kansans for Lifesaving Cures and the Kansas National Education Association. Institutions were her major donor group.

Elections

2010 run for Congress

In 2010, Sen. Schodorf entered the primary race for the 4th Congressional District of Kansas, running against four other Republicans (Jim Anderson, Wink Hartman, Mike Pompeo and Paij Rutschman). She was endorsed by former U.S. Sen Nancy Kassebaum Baker on July 13, 2010.[11] Schodorf finished second in the Republican primary, losing to eventual general election winner Mike Pompeo.

2012

In the 2012 Republican primary for her state senate seat, Sen. Schodorf was defeated by Michael O'Donnell of Wichita in the Republican Primary on Aug. 7, 2012, by a 2,785 to 1,949 margin. Schodorf, a moderate, had been targeted by conservatives Republicans for defeat.[12][13] O'Donnell went on to defeat Democratic nominee, the late Timothy L. Snow in the general election. [14][15]

2014

In September 2013, Schodorf announced she was running for Secretary of State of Kansas, switching parties to run as a Democrat.[13] She was defeated by incumbent Republican Kris Kobach, who was running for re-election.

References

  1. ↑ Secretary of State election results, Kansas Secretary of State, November 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ Defeated Kansas Senator: "Koch Industries is just a terrible, terrible citizen", Slate Magazine, Dave Weigel, August 8, 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State's Office, August 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ Michael O'Donnell unseats Schodorf in race, KSN-TV Channel 3, August 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ Jean Schodorf, Outgoing Kansas State Senator, Becomes A Democrat Huffington Post. January 14, 2013. Accessed July 30, 2013
  6. ↑ Former Senate education committee chairwoman to change party affiliation, Topeka Capitol-Journal, January 13, 2013.
  7. ↑ Profile from the Kansas Senate
  8. ↑ SR 1606
  9. ↑ SR 1611
  10. ↑ Jean Schodorf 2008 campaign contributions
  11. ↑ "Kassebaum Baker endorses Schodorf for Congress", Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com, July 13, 2010.
  12. ↑ AP (25 September 2013). "Ex-GOP Sen. Jean Schodorf seeks bid for Secretary of State as Democrat". The Topeka Capitol Journal. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  13. 1 2 Kraske, Steve (28 October 2013). "Look out, Kobach: Here comes Jean Schodorf". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2012 Primary (official)," retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results

External links

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