Sebelius names McKinney Kansas treasurer

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday appointed House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney to replace Lynn Jenkins as state treasurer.
    Sebelius announced her selection of McKinney, 48, during a Statehouse news conference. Jenkins is leaving the job after defeating Democrat Rep. Nancy Boyda for the 2nd District seat in Congress in the Nov. 4 election. Sebelius said Jenkins is expected to resign as state treasurer at the first of the year.
    McKinney, a Greensburg Democrat, was appointed to the House in May 1992 and has been minority leader since 2002. He said he would take guidance on how to be treasurer from the example set by former Gov. Joan Finney, who was treasurer for more than a decade.
    "For me, Joan Finney really defined what being state treasurer meant, and defined a lot what being in public service meant," McKinney said.
    He said he was committed to his belief that the state should have sound fiscal policy, reducing debt in good times and being prepared to issue bonds for public projects to stimulate the economy in downturns.
    Sebelius said McKinney's familiarity with state budget issues made him a good choice for the position. McKinney holds a master's degree in public finance and administration from Wichita State University.