An Advocate for Change

McKechnie was elected to the Kansas House in 1990 at the age of 27. He quickly understood the value of time and how to manage projects, and how to shepherd a concept from an idea to law. Seen here in the spring of 2000 with RJ Wilson, who replaced McKechnie in the House, Ed has remained connected at the State level and has worked on transportation, higher education, and economic development projects since he retired from the Kansas House.

Ed McKechnie and his friend walking together
Ed McKechnie and Family

About Ed McKechnie

The most important thing in Ed’s life is his family of two boys, Austin, 19, and Jackson, 17. Together they have traveled the world and enjoyed world events, snow skiing, and the beach. Ed loves watching his boys having fun. Austin was a three-year, three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and track. Jackson is a special teams leader with punting and kicking in football and plays golf for his high school varsity team. Both boys enjoy singing; Austin has placed in regional choir contests, and Jackson sings regularly on Spotify and Apple Music.

Austin will be a freshman at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2022, and Jackson will be a senior at Pittsburg High School.

Strategic Planning & Industrial Development

Seen here with former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, Tim Shallenburger, and current member of the US Congress (R-2-KS) Jake LaTurner, McKechnie was a change agent in the Kansas House from 1991 to 2000.

McKechnie, D-Pittsburg, served on numerous committees: Legislative Port Audit, the investigative arm of the Kansas Legislature, Appropriations, State Building Construction, Education, and select committees on Juvenile Justice, Developmental Disabilities, and Higher Education. His leadership role and government advocacy in those three areas allowed Kansas to make historic reforms and improvements in all three areas.

Ed McKechnie and his friends smiling