Beverly Gossage (born May 22, 1950) is an American politician, insurance agent, and former educator currently serving as a member of the Kansas Senate representing the 9th district in Johnson County, Kansas. A Republican, she was elected in 2020 to succeed retiring senator Julia Lynn.[1][2][3] Previously, she had unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Kansas Insurance Commissioner in 2014.[2][4]
Beverly Gossage | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 9th district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Julia Lynn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1950 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Robert |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Fort Scott Community College Central Missouri State University |
Early life and education
editGossage was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Calvin and LaVaughn Kastl.[5][6] She earned an associate's degree from Fort Scott Community College,[6] and holds a bachelor's degree in education from Central Missouri State University.
Private sector career
editGossage worked for eight years as an elementary school teacher. She also worked at Sylvan Learning.[7]
Gossage founded HSA Benefits Consulting, a firm that consults with businesses and individuals regarding health savings accounts.[3] She specialized in consumer driven health plans.[8] She has also served as a consultant with the Show-Me Institute, a conservative think tank based in Missouri.[9]
Early political activity
editGossage is a Republican, and has described herself as a "free-market conservative"[7] and a "Tea Party grassroots activist".[10]
Gossage was appointed as alternate delegate to the 2012 Republican Convention. The following year, she was appointed as a State Delegate for the Kansas Republican Party.[6]
In 2014, she ran for Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was unsuccessful in winning the Republican nomination, coming in second place at the primary election.[2] During her campaign, she received endorsements from Newt Gingrich and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, as well as several Kansas State Representatives, including Willie Dove, Owen Donohoe, and Amanda Grosserode.[11][12]
During the 2016 Presidential election, Gossage again served as Republican delegate. During the race, she supported Ted Cruz.[10]
Senate career
editGossage was nominated by Republican precinct members in Kansas's 9th district, and ran against Democrat Stacey Knoell in the 2020 Kansas Senate election. Her hastened campaign preceded a last minute drop-out; incumbent senator Julia Lynn withdrew her campaign due to a family emergency in early September.[9]
For the 2021–2022 legislative session, Gossage was appointed Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare. Additionally, she received the following Senate Committee assignments:[1]
- Financial Institutions and Insurance
- Judiciary
- Education
- Robert G. (Bob) Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight
Personal life
editGossage married Robert Gossage in 1969,[5] and had four children. She currently lives in rural De Soto.[7][5] Robert died of COVID-19 on December 16, 2020.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Senator Beverly Gossage". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Beverly Gossage Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Jonathan Shorman (September 17, 2020). "Kansas GOP picks replacement for State Sen. Julia Lynn, who dropped reelection bid". Kansas City Star. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Beverly Gossage for Kansas Insurance Commissioner". Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c "Beverly Gossage – for Kansas State Senate". Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Meet Beverly". Beverly Gossage for Kansas Insurance Commissioner. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c KUCR (July 28, 2014). "Primer on GOP candidates for Kansas insurance commissioner". KUCR. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Beverly Gossage". Independent Women's Voice. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Shorman, Jonathan (September 17, 2020). "Kansas GOP picks replacement for state Sen. Julia Lynn, who dropped re-election bid". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Smith, David (July 21, 2016). "'He's a disaster': Trump still faces a party divided on convention's final night". the Guardian. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Endorsements". Beverly Gossage for Kansas Insurance Commissioner. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013.
- ^ "AAPS endorses Beverly Gossage for Kansas Insurance Commissioner". us1.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Motter, Sarah. "Kansas Senator-elect loses husband just before taking office". WIBW. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Gardens, Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial. "Obituary for Robert E. Gossage | Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens". Obituary for Robert E. Gossage | Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens. Retrieved February 5, 2021.