Kansas Governor to head nursing home group after leaving office in January

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson will head a national nursing home trade group after he leaves office in January.

Kansas City Star: "Parkinson, a Democrat, will be president and CEO of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, a non-profit, Washington-based trade and lobbying organization representing 11,000 nursing homes and assisted living centers." Before becoming lieutenant governor, Parkinson used to run a chain of long-term care facilities. He assumed the governor's job after Kathleen Sebelius left that post to become secretary of health and human services under President Barack Obama (Klepper, 9/13).

The Associated Press/Bloomberg Businessweek: "'I have always intended to return to the business of caring for our senior citizens with dignity,' Parkinson said in a statement. 'My wife Stacy and I share a passion for this cause, and we have been fortunate to make a difference in the lives of thousands of senior citizens and their families.' … Republican Sam Brownback and Democrat Tom Holland are running in November to replace Parkinson," who opted not to run this year (Milburn, 9/13).

Bloomberg: "Parkinson, a Republican who became a Democrat before running in 2006, will succeed 68-year-old Bruce Yarwood, who has been president and CEO of the 11,000-member nursing home group since 2005" (Young, 9/13).