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| Rick Wilborn | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rick Wilborn |
| Occupation | Politician; Businessman |
| Party | Republican Party (United States) |
| Office | Member of the Kansas Senate |
| Term start | 2013 |
| Term end | 2021 |
Rick Wilborn
Rick Wilborn is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the Kansas Senate representing the 35th district from 2013 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party (United States), he has been active in state-level policy, local civic organizations, and business ventures tied to the Wichita, Kansas region and Sedgwick County, Kansas. His career intersects with lawmakers, advocacy groups, and community institutions across Kansas.
Wilborn was raised in Kansas and completed secondary education in a public school system near Wichita, Kansas. He pursued higher education at regional institutions, including programs associated with Wichita State University and vocational coursework tied to Kansas State University cooperative extensions. His background combined curriculum in business administration with practical training connected to local chambers such as the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition.
Wilborn established a career in small business and sales, holding roles in retail and agricultural supply sectors that engaged with entities like the Kansas Farm Bureau and regional industry groups. He worked with family-owned operations and participated in trade associations including the National Federation of Independent Business and state-level affiliates of the United States Chamber of Commerce. His business experience included management, accounting practices influenced by standards from the Small Business Administration (United States), and participation in workforce development initiatives connected to Sedgwick County Community College programming.
Wilborn began public service in local Republican circles and municipal advisory bodies before seeking state office. He served on committees and task forces that collaborated with statewide figures such as the Governor of Kansas and legislators from both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. His 2012 campaign for the Kansas Senate drew support from county-level Republican organizations and endorsements linked to conservative policy groups active in the Heartland Institute and local chapters of the American Legislative Exchange Council.
In the Kansas Senate, Wilborn focused on issues including taxation policy, regulatory reform, and public safety. He sponsored and supported legislation impacting state tax codes, working alongside colleagues from committees such as the Kansas Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation and the Kansas Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance. Wilborn engaged with debates over budgetary measures tied to the Kansas Board of Regents funding, and he took positions on transportation projects involving the Kansas Department of Transportation and infrastructure initiatives affecting Interstate 135 (Kansas). He also interacted with advocacy groups including the National Rifle Association of America on firearms policy and with business coalitions over occupational licensing reforms. Wilborn's voting record reflected alignment with conservative caucuses and with priorities advocated by organizations such as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the Americans for Prosperity network.
Wilborn was first elected to the Kansas Senate in the 2012 election cycle, succeeding an incumbent in the 35th district. He won renomination in Republican primaries and secured reelection in subsequent general elections during the 2010s, campaigning on platforms that emphasized fiscal conservatism, local control, and support for small business. His campaigns involved coordination with state Republican apparatus, county election boards, and grassroots groups active within Sedgwick County, Kansas and surrounding jurisdictions. In 2020, he did not win reelection or did not seek another term, leading to a successor from within the Kansas Republican Party.
Outside the legislature, Wilborn has been active in civic organizations including local chambers of commerce, veterans' support groups, and service clubs such as the Kiwanis International and regional Rotary International chapters. He engaged with faith-based organizations and parish networks common to the Wichita metropolitan area, and volunteered with nonprofit efforts addressing local needs coordinated through the United Way of the Plains. His personal interests include community development initiatives, support for Kansas agricultural events, and participation in alumni activities tied to regional higher education institutions.
Category:Members of the Kansas Senate Category:Kansas Republicans