Douglas S. Wright
Encyclopedia
Douglas S. Wright is a former attorney, mayor of Topeka, Kansas
and candidate for the United States Congress
. He is currently preparing to become a teacher.
with a degree in history and a law degree from Washburn Law School. He later returned to earn a teaching certificate. While an undergraduate at Washburn, Wright was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
. In 1985, Wright was named the Topeka Phi Delta Theta Alumni Club's "Phi of the Year."
He was married to Susan Kennedy Wright and together they had two children, Sara and Adam. His wife died in October 2006.
, the Kansas Expo Center, the Topeka Performing Arts Center and Westridge Mall. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities and as President of the Governing Body of the League of Kansas Municipalities.
In 1984, Wright welcomed the Olympic Torch to the city running one kilometer with it as it made its way to Los Angeles. In 1985, the city changed its form of government from a city commission to a city council form of government. That same year, he was re-elected to the mayor's office. Wright attempted to lure the Kansas City Sizzlers
to Topeka in 1986. He led the effort to return a two hundred year-old bell looted from a Buddhist temple during the American occupation of Japan following World War II. He also oversaw recovery efforts after a 1988 tornado that destroyed more than 20 homes and damaged 15 businesses.
Wright lost his re-election bid in 1989 to former Parks Commissioner Harry “Butch” Felker III
by about 5,000 votes.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wright rebuffed overtures from Republican officials to run for Congress against Jim Slattery
. Slattery and Wright were fraternity brothers at Washburn. After the seat became open with the election of Sam Brownback
to the U.S. Senate, in 1996, Wright sought the Republican nomination for the 2nd District congressional seat. He finished second in the primary to eventual winner Jim Ryun
.
Throughout the 1990s, Wright practiced law. He was also the chairman of Myriad Development Corporation which attempted to build an 8,000 seat arena in Olathe, Kansas
. Myriad sought about $20 million in state tax incentives but was unsuccessful. Myriad’s CEO was Greg Bair.
Wright was convicted of theft and fraud in connection with the affairs of his elderly great aunt. Wright served ten months in prison. The Kansas Supreme Court disbarred Wright in September 2003. The former mayor repaid his aunt with interest and in 2009 had his conviction expunged.
. He then completed a student teaching rotation at Highland Park High School in Topeka.
In May 2009, a committee of the Kansas Board of Education denied Wright’s application for a teaching license. Wright filed suit and a Judge Larry Hendricks ordered the Board to reconsider its decision. In December 2009, the Kansas Board of Education in a 6-4 vote upheld its decision to bar Wright from obtaining a Kansas teaching license. The Board’s decision came despite support from several including Dale Cushinberry, principal at Highland Park where Wright completed his student teaching, Matt Herbert, the teacher who supervised his student teaching and several of the professors who taught Wright when he earned his teaching certificate.
According to press reports, "The requirements to obtain a teaching license for a person with a criminal past include waiting at least five years since the conviction, finishing any probationary period and presenting evidence of rehabilitation." The Kansas Board gave no explanation of its decision.
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
and candidate for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He is currently preparing to become a teacher.
Family and education
Wright grew up in Topeka where his mother, Alice Clare Wright, was a school teacher and his father Charles W. Wright, Jr. served as mayor from 1965 to 1969. He graduated from Washburn UniversityWashburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
with a degree in history and a law degree from Washburn Law School. He later returned to earn a teaching certificate. While an undergraduate at Washburn, Wright was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
. In 1985, Wright was named the Topeka Phi Delta Theta Alumni Club's "Phi of the Year."
He was married to Susan Kennedy Wright and together they had two children, Sara and Adam. His wife died in October 2006.
Political, legal and business life
Wright was an assistant city attorney before defeating incumbent Mayor Bill McCormick in 1983. At the time of his election, Wright was 34 years old. He served as mayor from 1983 to 1989 and is remembered as an effective, hard working and aggressive mayor. He was a driving force behind the development of Heartland Park TopekaHeartland Park Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located south of Topeka, Kansas.When it opened in 1989, it was the first brand-new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations , a ⅜ mile...
, the Kansas Expo Center, the Topeka Performing Arts Center and Westridge Mall. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities and as President of the Governing Body of the League of Kansas Municipalities.
In 1984, Wright welcomed the Olympic Torch to the city running one kilometer with it as it made its way to Los Angeles. In 1985, the city changed its form of government from a city commission to a city council form of government. That same year, he was re-elected to the mayor's office. Wright attempted to lure the Kansas City Sizzlers
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
to Topeka in 1986. He led the effort to return a two hundred year-old bell looted from a Buddhist temple during the American occupation of Japan following World War II. He also oversaw recovery efforts after a 1988 tornado that destroyed more than 20 homes and damaged 15 businesses.
Wright lost his re-election bid in 1989 to former Parks Commissioner Harry “Butch” Felker III
Butch Felker
Harry L. "Butch" Felker III was a Kansas politician and former mayor of Topeka, Kansas who served two full terms and one partial term, resigning in 2003 due to political pressure as a result of a scandal....
by about 5,000 votes.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wright rebuffed overtures from Republican officials to run for Congress against Jim Slattery
Jim Slattery
James Charles Slattery is an American politician and was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Kansas.- Early life and career :...
. Slattery and Wright were fraternity brothers at Washburn. After the seat became open with the election of Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
to the U.S. Senate, in 1996, Wright sought the Republican nomination for the 2nd District congressional seat. He finished second in the primary to eventual winner Jim Ryun
Jim Ryun
James Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
.
Throughout the 1990s, Wright practiced law. He was also the chairman of Myriad Development Corporation which attempted to build an 8,000 seat arena in Olathe, Kansas
Olathe, Kansas
Olathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
. Myriad sought about $20 million in state tax incentives but was unsuccessful. Myriad’s CEO was Greg Bair.
Legal problems
In 2003, Wright was charged by Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht with 47 counts of felony theft. Forty-three counts stemmed from Wright’s alleged theft of approximately $86,000 between January 1998 and February 2002 from his elderly great-aunt, Vera L. Johnson. Wright had power of attorney over Johnson’s affairs. The other four counts alleged that Wright had misappropriated approximately $3,000 from the Topeka Lawyers Club, a social club where Wright served as secretary-treasurer.Wright was convicted of theft and fraud in connection with the affairs of his elderly great aunt. Wright served ten months in prison. The Kansas Supreme Court disbarred Wright in September 2003. The former mayor repaid his aunt with interest and in 2009 had his conviction expunged.
Teaching
After serving his sentence, he worked as a car salesman before earning a teaching certificate from Washburn UniversityWashburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
. He then completed a student teaching rotation at Highland Park High School in Topeka.
In May 2009, a committee of the Kansas Board of Education denied Wright’s application for a teaching license. Wright filed suit and a Judge Larry Hendricks ordered the Board to reconsider its decision. In December 2009, the Kansas Board of Education in a 6-4 vote upheld its decision to bar Wright from obtaining a Kansas teaching license. The Board’s decision came despite support from several including Dale Cushinberry, principal at Highland Park where Wright completed his student teaching, Matt Herbert, the teacher who supervised his student teaching and several of the professors who taught Wright when he earned his teaching certificate.
According to press reports, "The requirements to obtain a teaching license for a person with a criminal past include waiting at least five years since the conviction, finishing any probationary period and presenting evidence of rehabilitation." The Kansas Board gave no explanation of its decision.