Jim Garner

Who is Jim Garner?

Jim Garner is an American politician, who serves as the Kansas Secretary of Labor. Garner was appointed to the post on January 7, 2003 by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius

Garner attended Coffeyville public schools, graduating from Field Kindley High School and Coffeyville Community College. He earned a B.A. in history from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Following law school, Jim served a two-year appointment as a research attorney for U.S. District Judge Dale E. Saffels of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Garner served six terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, having been first elected to the 11th District in November 1990. He has served as the Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, as Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee and as a member of the House Taxation Committee, the House Insurance Committee, and the House Business, Commerce and Labor Committee.

In December 1998, Jim was unanimously elected to serve as the House Minority Leader of the Kansas House of Representatives and was re-elected to that position in 2000.

On January 7, 2003, Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced her selection of Jim Garner to serve as Acting Secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor, and on March 28 the Governor selected Jim to serve as Secretary of Labor.