Joann Flower

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Joann Flower
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 47th district
In office
1989–2000
Preceded byRobin Leach
Succeeded byLee Tafanelli
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 47th district
In office
2005–2005
Preceded byLee Tafanelli
Succeeded byLee Tafanelli
Personal details
Born (1935-05-06) May 6, 1935 (age 89)[1]
Elkhart, Kansas
Political partyRepublican
SpousePaul Flower[2]
Children2
ResidenceOskaloosa, Kansas
Alma materJohns Hopkins University[3]

Joann Flower (born May 6, 1935) is an American former politician who served for six terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, as well as an additional year after her initial stint.

Flower was born and raised in rural western Kansas. She attended Johns Hopkins University and worked as a nurse before returning to Kansas, marrying her husband Paul, and raising two children. She got involved in local Republican politics, serving as a county chair for U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum and managing a friend's campaign for Jefferson County commissioner, and decided to run for the Kansas House herself in the 1988 elections.[3] She successfully unseated 12-year incumbent Robin D. Leach, and served for six terms in the House; she was succeeded in 2001 by fellow Republican Lee Tafanelli.

In 2005, Tafanelli, still serving in the Kansas House, was deployed to Iraq due to his service in the Kansas National Guard as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Flower was appointed to fill his seat while he was deployed, and served for an additional year during 2005; after Tafanelli's return from overseas, he resumed his seat.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kansas Legislators, Past and Present - Flower, Joann". kslib.info. State Library of Kansas. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Flower, Joann E. - Kansas Legislative Handbook". Kansas Government Information Online Library. 1991. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Tucker, Sara (February 1, 1991). "Interview of Joann Flowers by Sara Tucker". Kansas Government Information Online Library. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kansas Legislators, Past and Present - Tafanelli, Lee". kslib.info. State Library of Kansas. Retrieved December 22, 2022.