Valdenia Winn
Valdenia C. Winn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 34th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | David Haley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1950 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Keith V. Persley |
| Residence(s) | Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas (BSEd, MA, PhD)[1] |
| Profession | Community college professor |
Valdenia Camille "Val" Winn (born December 7, 1950) is an member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 34th district. A Democrat, she has served since 2001.
Since 1972, Winn has worked as a professor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.[2] Dr. Winn currently serves as the Vice President of the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools Board of Education.[3]
Early life and education
Winn received a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education (1972), a Master's in History, and a PhD (1994) History from the University of Kansas.[4]
Career
Winn is currently the chairman/treasurer for the Northeast Coalition, treasurer for the Northeast Cooperative Council, and a member of the Struggler's Hill/Roots Neighborhood Association.
She is a member of the Governor's Council on Travel & Tourism, and a previous member of the Health for All Kansas Steering Commission, Kansas Incorporated Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Governor's Council on Development of Including Kansas, and Kansas Sesquicentennial Steering Commission.[5]
In March 2015, Republicans proposed ejecting her from the legislature, after she'd referred to actions taken by Republican colleagues as "racist."[6] The bill would have denied lower in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. Winn, the ranking Democrat on the committee considering the proposed legislation explained her objections to it. "This is a racist, sexist, fear-mongering bill." "I would like first to apologize to the progressively-minded people of Kansas who are appalled that we are turning back the hands of time." She characterized the proponents as employing, "Jim Crow tactics, once again making Kansas a laughingstock." She apologized, "...to the students and their parents whose lives are being hijacked by the racist bigots who support this bill."[6]
Elections
From 2008 through 2020, Winn had no opposition in the primaries or in the general elections. In 2015, she also ran for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools Board, winning a four-year term.[7]
References
- ^ "Vote Smart - Facts For All". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Kansas City Kansas Board of Education - Board Member Biography
- ^ Kansas City Kansas Public Schools - Board of Education Members
- ^ KU Alumni Association, Black Alumni Network honor alumni for achievements
- ^ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Valdenia Winn Biography
- ^ a b Black state lawmaker could be expelled for calling GOP colleagues "racist", CBS News. Jake Miller, June 19, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- ^ At-Large General Election, 4-year terms, 2015Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City Election Office, "2015 City/School Election Unofficial Candidate List", Ballotpedia, January 27, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2022.