Mike Thompson (Kansas senator)

Michael Lowry Thompson (born August 12, 1957) is an American politician, meteorologist and weather forecaster who is currently a member of the Kansas Senate representing the 10th Senate district in Johnson County, Kansas. He was appointed to the senate in January 2020 by Republican Party precinct committee members in the 10th District following the resignation of Mary Pilcher-Cook, and took office on January 21, 2020, following a formal appointment by Governor Laura Kelly.[1][2]

For the state representative, see Kansas House of Representatives.
Mike Thompson
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 10th district
Assumed office
January 21, 2020
Preceded byMary Pilcher-Cook
Personal details
Born
Michael Lowry Thompson

(1957-08-12) August 12, 1957
Wichita, Kansas, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLeAnne
Children3
EducationUnited States Naval Weather Schools

Early career

Thompson was a longtime weather forecaster for television stations in the Kansas City television market. He was the chief meteorologist for WDAF-TV in Kansas City from January 1992 to December 2018. Prior to WDAF-TV, he was the chief meteorologist for KCTV from 1983 to 1992 as well as a meteorologist for KOKH-TV and KWTV in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and WPCQ-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina. He studied meteorology in the United States Navy and was a Navy weather forecaster. He grew up in Burlington, Kansas and was born in Wichita.[3] Thompson currently operates a speaking and weather consulting business in the Kansas City region and resides in Shawnee, Kansas.[4]

Political career

Thompson was chosen for his seat in the Kansas Senate by Republican Party precinct committeepersons in Johnson County to complete the final year on Pilcher-Cook's term. He faced an August 2020 Republican primary challenge from Republican state Representative Tom Cox in a campaign for a full four-year term in the Senate. Thompson defeated Cox in the Aug. 4, 2020 Republican primary.[5][6][7] Thompson won by a wide margin over Cox, but it was a close race over Shawnee Democratic Councilwoman Lindsey Constance. He won by 51.9% to 48.1%, 22,362 votes to 20,758.[8] In October 2021, Thompson objected to COVID-19 mandates, saying, "I'm absolutely not sure it's safe."[9] Republicans created the "Special Joint Committee on Government Overreach and the Impact of COVID-19 Mandates."[9] Thompson said, "Look at these kids who are in school having to wear the masks." "We know there are adverse effects from that as well, not only from a physical, but also social and emotional standpoint. So there are a lot of parents who are begging school boards to rescind those mask mandates."[9] Thompson questioned the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. He said, "I think we have to look at the safety of this vaccine versus what the real risk of COVID is, and we know for a fact it's a 99.7% recovery rate from COVID in the general population," adding, "Among kids, it's virtually 100%." .[9]

Committee assignments

2020-2021 Kansas Senate Committee Assignments[10]

  • Utilities, Chairman
  • Local Government
  • Transparency and Ethics
  • Public Health and Welfare
  • Judiciary

References
  1. 41 Action News Staff (2016-04-05). "Former metro meteorologist elected to Kansas state Senate". kshb.com. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  2. "January 21, 2020 Journal of the Kansas Senate" (PDF). Kansas Senate. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  3. "Mike Thompson Biography" (PDF). Mike Thompson LLC. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  4. "Mike Thompson LLC". Mike Thompson LLC. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  5. Kansas Secretary of State (2020-06-01). "Kansas 2020 Primary Election Results". Kansas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  6. Sarah Ritter (2019-12-31). "Longtime Kansas City meteorologist, Republican Mike Thompson, running for Kansas Senate". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  7. Jay Senter (2019-05-07). "Rep. Tom Cox announces he's running for Mary Pilcher-Cook's seat in Kansas Senate". Shawnee Mission Post. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  8. Kansas Secretary of State 2020 General Election, Kansas Secretary of State, November 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  9. 'I'm just seeking the truth': Senator on Kansas anti-mandate panel questions COVID vaccine safety, Capital Journal;, Jason Tidd, October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  10. "Senator Mike Thompson". Kslegislature.org. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
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