Representative Marti Crow

Representative Marti Crow
Kansas House of Representatives 41st District

Biography:
        Marti was born Martha Ellen Burnett in Bryan, Texas, on December 7, 1944, while her dad was training pilots for World War II. She grew up moving around the United States and the world in an Air Force family. She graduated from high school in Belton, Missouri while her dad was stationed at Richards Gebaur Air Force Base. While her family moved elsewhere, Marti attended and graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas and became a Kansan. She married Mike Crow in 1968. After Mike served in the Army in Vietnam and entered law school at Washburn, the Crows started their family with Jennifer, who was born in 1972. Mike became an attorney in 1973 and, in 1974 the Crow family moved to Leavenworth. Emily and Bryan were born in 1976 and 1978.
       Marti devoted her time to raising the children and volunteering in the Leavenworth Community, serving on the school board, planning commission, board of zoning appeals and many community organizations. In 1990, she entered Washburn Law School and became an attorney in December 1992. She worked for the Kansas Department of Revenue in 1993 and the Kansas Department of Health & Environment from 1993 to 1995. While working for KDHE, she acted as laison between the agency and Kansas cities and counties. She also wrote legislation and prepared testimony for legislative committees. In early 1995, Marti joined the Crow, Clothier & Bates law firm in Leavenworth.
        In 1996, Clyde Graeber announced that he would retire from the House of Representatives after six terms. Marti filed for election to the House and was elected in November 1996 to represent the 41st District. She was reelected in 1998.

Personal Data:

Married to Michael Crow
Mother of three adults - Jennifer, Emily, and Bryan

Business and Work Experience:

Attorney, Partner - Crow, Clothier & Bates Law Firm
Formerly 8th grade Teacher

Education:

B.A., Secondary Education, Baker University, with honors, 1966
J. D., Washburn University, summa cum laude, 1992

Political data:

Party Affiliation: Democrat
Kansas House of Representatives - 41st District

Committees:

House Education Committee
Public Safety Budget Committee
House Judiciary Committee
Ranking Democrat, Joint Committee on Claims Against the State
House Select Committee on Tobacco Settlement Funds

Civic & National Activities:

Committee on Interstate Transportation of High Level Radioactive Waste, Council of State Governments
Leavenworth Bar Association
Founder and Member of Board of Directors of Leadership Leavenworth/Lansing
Leavenworth Council, St. Mary College
Women's Associate, St. Mary College--1980-present; President-1999-2000
Board of Directors, Northeast Kansas Mental Health & Guidance Center
St. John Hospital Guild
Cushing Hospital Auxiliary
Mother to Mother Ministry, Board of Directors
American Business Womens Association, Rainbow Chapter
Leavenworth-Fort Leavenworth Panhellenic
Chapter EO, PEO
Whittier Club
Daughters of the United States Army
Kansas Bar Association
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
American Planning Association
First United Methodist Church

Former Activities:

Leavenworth City Planning Commission--1978-90, 1992-December, 96; Chairman 1985-89

While a member of the Planning Commission, Marti participated in rewriting the Leavenworth City Zoning Ordinance and the drafting and adoption of two Comprehensive Plans, as well as numerous planning studies for roads and other capital improvements. She represented Leavenworth in 1995 at a regional meeting, presenting a program about the role of a Planning Commissioner in city government.

Leavenworth Board of Zoning Appeals--1979-90, 1993-December, 1996; Chairman 1985-88
Leavenworth Board of Education--1983-December, 1996; President 1987-90, 1992-94

Marti was elected to the Board of Education, USD 453, four times and served as a Board member for over 13 years. During her tenure, the district accomplished a major building project to improve Leavenworth High School. Marti has represented Leavenworth as a presenter at the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) State Convention and served on the KASB Nominating Committee, which selects nominees for President of KASB.

President, Downtown Leavenworth Revitalization, Inc.--1989-90
Leavenworth YWCA Board of Directors--1974-82; President 1977-79
Board of Directors, Women's Division, Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, 1980-86, Treasurer 1982-86
Board of Directors, Leavenworth County Mental Health Association--1984-89
Board of Directors, St. John Hospital Guild--1985-89, Treasurer 1986-89
President, YMCA Board of Directors, 1978-79
Girl Scout Troop Leader, 1982-83
Brownie Troop Leader, 1983-85
Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, 1979-80, 1982-83

Honors:

1999 Fellow, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, Midwestern Legislative Conference, Council of State Governments
1986 Class, Leadership Kansas, Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Neighborhood Chairman, Cancer Drive, 1975
Baker University Alumni Board of Directors, 1980-82
Kansas State Chairman, Baker University Annual Fund Drive, 1973
Leavenworth Social Planning Council
Nettie Hartnett-Ben Day PTA President, 1981; Vice-President, 1980
Picture Lady, 1975-80; Coordinator for Nettie Hartnett-Ben Day Schools, 1976-80
United Way Drive, Co-Chairman, Residential Division, 1977, 1978; Team Captain 1980
Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission, appointed by Supreme Court; chairman, 1997-99
Trustee, Leavenworth County Bar Law Library, Leavenworth County Bar Association

District Office and Home
1200 S. Broadway, Leavenworth, KS 66048
phone: (913) 682-1544 or 682-1544
fax: (913) 682-2130
comments: crow@house.state.ks.us

Legislative Office (January - April)
Contact Room 284-W State Capitol Bldg. Topeka , KS 66612
phone: (785) 296-7673 fax: (785) 296-0251