Topic: Lieutenant Governor
Interview of Gary Sherrer, October 15, 2021
Interviewed by Mike Matson
Gary Sherrer was a debater and it changed his life. His reflections on growing up in Topeka, winning a debate scholarship to Kansas State Teachers College and then teaching for eight years are the perfect backdrop to his later achievements. His association with the Graves Trucking Company and soon-to-be-Governor Bill Graves paved the way for him to become Bill Graves' Lt. Governor. Sherrer won the respect of many Kansas leaders, including Henry Bubb and Jordan Haines, two preeminent bankers who recruited him to the banking industry as chief marketing officer, and later, lobbyist when multi-bank holding company Show Morelegislation was pending. His debate skills served him well as a lobbyist, enabling the controversial bill to pass by one vote. He developed the Leadership Kansas model to train leaders. He knew how to solve community problems and displayed those skills as Secretary of Commerce for Governor Graves. One of his proudest accomplishments was the STAR bonds project in Wyandotte County, with Mayor Carol Marinovich. The interview is replete with examples of programs he developed or guided to fruition. It is interesting to read all the anecdotes about the political scene. Show Less
Interview of Kathleen Sebelius, October 28, 2022
Interviewed by Joan Wagnon and Duane Goossen
Kathleen Sebelius ran for the legislature to "go home." Her kids were ages two and five and she was eager to get out of a demanding job to spend more time at home--better work-life balance. In her 2022 oral history interview, she discussed the changes in the culture of the legislature and state government she experienced over the 30-plus years she served in public office. She observed that when both US Senate seats for Kansas came open in 1996, and Sam Brownback challenged incumbent Sheila Frahm for one of the seats, a fissure Show Morewas created in the Republican party. Sebelius observed the insurance industry being very partisan and tilted toward the industry interests. Her discussion of budget issues during her terms as governor reveals her problem-solving process, even though her time in office was bookended by recessions. School finance also posed some unique challenges during her administration because the Great Recession got in the way of the court's mandates. Phill Kline, the Kansas Attorney General at the time urged Republicans to do nothing regarding school finance. The BEST teams created in the Sebelius administration were important to solving the budget crisis. This interview concludes with discussion of her selections of Lt. Governors and her experiences at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and her activities after leaving government service.
Considered together, this interview, interviews of Sebelius by Dr. Bob Beatty of Washburn university conducted in 2004 and 2016, and KOHP interviews conducted in 2023 and 2026 present a unique look at Kansas policymaking. Show Less
Interview of Rod Bremby, December 22, 2023
Interviewed by Rex Buchanan
As Secretary of Health and Environment for Kansas, Rod Bremby became the first U.S. public official to deny a coal-fired power plant operating permit due to climate change. In this interview he reflects on that decision made while navigating uncharted policy terrain and on lessons learned during his 30-year career in public service at the local and state levels. Bremby describes missed opportunities in considering the power plant operating permit application while saying clearly that, even in retrospect, it was the right decision. Bremby also explains how integration of health and environmental policy makes sense at the Show Morestate level. Notably, Bremby paints a picture of leadership that recognizes and relies upon the expertise and experience of public servants who serve under appointed officials. Show Less
Interview of Sheila Frahm, September 17, 2004
Interviewed by Bob Beatty
During a 2004 interview former Lt. Governor and US Senator Sheila Frahm describes to Dr. Bob Beatty her recollections of serving as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Bill Graves. Frahm explores the collaborative partnership she had with Graves, recalling the process of creating an executive team and the patience required to work with a slow-moving legislature. She recalled Graves’ personal leadership style, noting that a successful governor must balance approachability and willingness to collaborate with the more solitary responsibility of making independent decisions for the state’s benefit. Frahm compared the leadership styles of other former governors whom she had Show Moreobserved. The interview paints a picture of the political culture of Kansas during the late 20th Century and the personal sacrifices inherent in a live of public service.
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Dr. Bob Beatty of Washburn University generously granted the Kansas Oral History Project (KOHP) permission to house this transcript of his oral history interview of Sheila Frahm. The KOHP Board is grateful to Dr. Beatty for making this transcript available.
A 2020 interview of Sheila Frahm is included in the KOHP Women, Then and Now Project collection on this site. Show Less