Background
FINNEY, Joan was born on February 12, 1925 in Topeka, Kansas, United States of America. Daughter of Leonard Mclnnoy and Mary Mclnnoy (née Sands).
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Joan Marie Mclnroy FINNEY
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Joan FINNEY, American Governor of Kansas. Women of the Year, Topeka Chapter, National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club. National Federation of Democratic Women; American Legion; National Association, of Auditors; League of Women Voters; State Treasurer’s Association; National Association, of Unclaimed Property Administration; Women’s Political Caucus; National Association, of Auditors Political Caucus.
Education
She graduated from high school in Manhattan, Kansas in 1942. In 1978, she graduated from Washburn University with a degree in economic history.
Career
From 1953 to 1969, she served on the staff of Republican United States. Senator Frank Carlson. From 1970 to 1972, she served as Commissioner of Elections for Shawnee County, Kansas. In 1972, running as a Republican, she was an unsuccessful candidate for a United States. House seat in Kansas"s 2nd congressional district.
She also served as a Special Assistant to Topeka Mayor Bill McCormick.
Her staff her first term as Treasurer included Nancy Claggett and Kathleen Boston Cole McCune as Deputies. After upsetting former Governor John West. Carlin in the 1990 Democratic primary for Governor, she defeated incumbent Republican Mike Hayden in the general election becoming the first woman to defeat an incumbent Governor in a general election in the United States.
In addition to being the State of Kansas"s first female governor, she was Kansas" oldest governor, taking office at age 65, Kansas" first Roman Catholic Governor, and also one of the few pro-life Democratic Governors of her time
Following her term as Governor, in 1996, she ran for the United States. Senate seat vacated by Bob Dole, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Jill Docking, who gained 74% of the primary vote, and subsequently lost the general election to Sam Brownback. She died in 2001 from complications of liver cancer at the Street Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Topeka, and is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.
Religion
Catholic
Politics
After switching her political affiliation from Republican to Democrat, she served as the first female Kansas State Treasurer from 1975 to 1991.
Membership
National Federation of Democratic Women. American Legion; National Association, of Auditors. League of Women Voters.
State Treasurer’s Association. National Association, of Unclaimed Property Administration. Women’s Political Caucus.
National Association, of Auditors Political Caucus.
Connections
[{"type":"father","name":"Leonard Mclnnoy"},{"type":"mother","name":"Mary Mclnnoy (nu00e9e Sands)"},{"type":"spouse","name":"Spencer W. Finney Junior"}]
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Born
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Died
July 28, 2001 (aged 76) -
Nationality
United States -
Religion
Roman Catholic -
Political Party
Democratic party