Bill Graves

William Preston "Bill" Graves ( born January 9, 1953 in Salina, Saline County, Kansas ) is an American politician. He was from 1995 to 2003 the 43rd Governor of the State of Kansas.

Early years and political rise

Bill Graves ' family was the owner of a shipping company by the name of Graves Truck Line. He attended Kansas Wesleyan University and the University of Kansas. In 1991 he became Secretary of State in the Government of the State of Kansas. In this office he left an excellent impression. Therefore, he was nominated in 1994 by the Republican Party, especially by the more liberal wing, as a candidate for the gubernatorial elections.

Governor of Kansas

Graves took up his new post on January 9, 1995. At this time he was one of the youngest governors of Kansas at all. After a successful re-election in 1998, he could officiate a total of eight years. During this time, the governor promoted the generous expansion of the infrastructure, this included the highways, railways and airports. He was much to improve the transportation in his state. Also in his time the taxes in Kansas were reduced and rationalized and privatized some public services. He also promoted the expansion of the education system. In the field of health care, he advocated the closure of some large state hospitals; this should occur, which should reach and serve the patients better municipal, decentralized facilities.

The governor was also against personal advantage acquisitions in public office. At the time, took over the business after a slight depression in the previous years in Kansas an enormous upswing. Graves was so popular that his re-election in 1998 with 74 % of the vote one of the greatest victories of the Governor of Kansas was at all. Due to a constitutional provision he was not allowed to run for a third related term in 2002. Hence his term of office ended on 13 January 2003.

Another Journey

After the end of his term was Graves president of the American Trucking Associations ( Associations American transportation and logistics companies). He was temporarily in the interview for a cabinet position in the federal government. Bill Graves is married to Linda Richey, the couple has a child.