Growing up on a dairy farm near Holton, Kansas, Lynn Jenkins learned the values of hard work, keeping your word, and the importance of serving your community. Those are the same values that led her to public service and will continue to guide her decisions as she represents the Second District of Kansas, which includes Topeka, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Pittsburg, the western half of Lawrence, and the majority of northeast and southeast Kansas.
Lynn graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, earning a degree in Accounting with a minor in economics. Following graduation, Lynn became a Certified Public Accountant and practiced public accounting in the private sector before entering public service in 1998.
Spending four years in the Kansas Legislature, both in the House and the Senate, Lynn was known for her ability to work with people of all political stripes while standing firm in her beliefs of lower taxes and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
In 2002, Lynn was elected the 37th State Treasurer of Kansas. During her tenure, Lynn promoted and enhanced the Learning Quest College Savings Program, which grew to more than 200,000 accounts with total assets over $2 billion. Her office also returned millions in Unclaimed Property back to the people of Kansas. Because of Jenkins’ leadership, the office of state treasurer is no longer funded by state general fund dollars. Additionally, she served as the 2007-2008 President of the National Association of State Treasurers.
Privately, Jenkins has served as a board member of the Kansas Society of CPAs, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series Honorary Board of Governors, the Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership Program, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She is a graduate of Leadership Kansas and served on the Kansas State University Accounting Department Advisory Council, the CASA Advisory Board, the Kansas Children's Service League Board of Directors, the YMCA of Topeka Metro Board, the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation Board, and the Topeka Youth for Christ Endowment Advisory Committee