Treasurer has money but no announcement

Dennis McKinney has some of your money—about $200 million to be exact—and he really would like to give it back.

McKinney, the new treasurer for the state of Kansas, was in Olathe last week. It was a visit designed to remind the public and the press what his office does, not to announce any political plans for 2010.

One of the treasurer’s gems is the Kansas Unclaimed Property program.

Anything from forgotten bank accounts, insurance proceeds and even old payroll checks are there for the asking, and the service is free. Check online at www.kansascash.com or call 1-800-432-0386. It really works, too. On Friday in Topeka, McKinney is scheduled to return century-old heirlooms to a family.

Other programs the treasurer’s office is responsible for include the Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Program and Financial Literacy programs and camps.

When McKinney took the office after the first of the year, he was coming off a successful run in the Kansas House. He had been in the House since 1992 and the minority leader since 2002. When he was appointed by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, it had been expected that McKinney would seek a full term in 2010.

Since then, however, Sebelius has taken a Cabinet post in the Obama administration. Her successor, Mark Parkinson of Olathe, said he isn’t going to seek the office. All of this has thrust speculation about a run for governor on McKinney—a Democrat from Greensburg—yes, the tornado did level his house, and yes, he did rebuild.

During his visit to Olathe, he wasn’t ready to make any announcement about running beyond saying some things were being done to prepare for that event. But for which office? Stay tuned.