Saturday, December 29, 2012

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley holds the record for the longest tenure in the state Legislature.

Hensley has been a legislator for 36 years, starting in the House from 1977 through 1992. He began serving in the Senate in 1993.

According to the State Library, the next-longest tenure belongs to Concordia Republican Ross Doyen, who served 34 years, starting in the House in 1959 and moving to the Senate in 1969.

Next with 32 years each in the Senate are Democrat Joe Warren of Maple Hill and Republican Joseph Harder of Moundridge. Warren left the Senate in 1988 and Harder, in 1992.

Among legislators who'll return in 2013, the most senior behind Hensley is incoming Senate President and Wichita Republican Susan Wagle, with 22 years.