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Connie O'Brien

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Connie O'Brien
Member of the Kansas State Board of Education from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 13, 2025
Preceded byAnn Mah
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
In office
January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byKenny Wilk
Succeeded byJim Karleskint
Personal details
Born (1946-10-12) October 12, 1946 (age 78)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEdward O'Brien
Children11
Alma materUniversity of Saint Mary (B.A.)
ProfessionRetired

Connie O'Brien (born October 12, 1946) is a Republican politician and member of the Kansas State Board of Education, representing the 4th district since 2025. She previously served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 42nd district from 2009 to 2017.

Early life

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O'Brien attended Saint Mary College, graduating with her bachelor's degree in secondary education and social studies. She worked as the director of religious education at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tonganoxie and taught in Leavenworth County schools as a special education teacher.[1]

Kansas House of Representatives

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In 2008, Republican State Representative Kenny Wilk declined to seek re-election and O'Brien ran to succeed him in the 42nd district. She defeated Ted Ingerson in the Republican primary by a wide margin,[2] and faced Democratic nominee Timothy Moran in the general election.[3] O'Brien handily defeated Moran, winning 60% of the vote.[4]

In 2010, she ran for re-election and faced Democrat Jim Pittman, the chairman of the Lansing Planning Commission.[5] She won her second term in a landslide, receiving 65% of the vote to Pittman's 35%.[6]

Kansas State Board of Education

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In 2024, Ann Mah, who served as a member of the Kansas State Board of Education from the 4th district, declined to seek re-election. O'Brien ran to succeed her, positioning herself as a socially conservative candidate supportive of parental rights. She received the endorsement of state Attorney General Kris Kobach,[7] and ultimately won the Republican primary with 45% of the vote to Nancy Moneymaker's 36% and Gina Montalbano Zesiger's 19%.[8] In the general election, she was opposed by Kris Meyer, the Democratic nominee and a former elementary school principal.[9] O'Brien narrowly defeated Meyer, winning 51% of the vote to Meyer's 49%,[10] providing conservatives with a majority on the Board.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "District 4". Kansas State Department of Education. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  2. ^ "2008 Primary Election: Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  3. ^ Kelley, Nicole (2008-11-05). "Voters oust two incumbents". Tonganoxie Mirror. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  4. ^ "2008 General Election: Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  5. ^ Linn, Tim (2010-11-03). "O'Brien holds on to state House seat". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  6. ^ "2010 General Election: Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  7. ^ Kaminski, Anna (2024-10-22). "Kansas Board of Education races could shift power to conservative bloc". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  8. ^ "2024 Primary Election: Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  9. ^ Mesa, Blaise (2024-10-11). "Kris Meyer and Connie O'Brien running for Kansas State Board of Education seat". Kansas Beacon. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  10. ^ "2024 General Election: Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  11. ^ Kelly, Matthew (2024-11-18). "Kansas Board of Education shifts right for first time in 18 years. What it could mean". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
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