Family
Karin and Doug live in Olathe with their four children: Melissa, Betsy, Justin and Jeff. Basketball and K-State football are the primary family hobbies!

Doug and Karin owned Patron's Mortgage Co. in Olathe from 1988 to 2003. Doug has continued his career in mortgage lending at Security Savings Bank.

Education
Karin graduated from Olathe High School. She then attended Kansas State University where she earned a B.S. in Microbiology.

Active Citizen
Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Association
Gardner & Spring Hill Chambers of Commerce
Republican Precinct Person 1992- present
Santa Fe Trail Rotary Club
Olathe South HS Site Council
Olathe Bible Church
Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association

Olathe Area Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors - ex officio for nine years from end of 1996 to end of 2005
Economic Development Advisory Council - ex officio 1997 to present
Leadership Olathe Graduate - 1993
Legislative Affairs Committee

Boards and Councils
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Foundation - resigned 2004 after many years of service
Johnson County Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board
Governor’s Council on Tourism
Workforce Network of Kansas
KS Small Business Development Centers - State Board

Kansas Legislature
State Senator for the 23rd District

First elected 1996

Re-elected 2000 & 2004

For 10 of her 11 years, Sen. Brownlee has had a perfect voting record.

Current Positions & Committees
Assistant Senate Majority Leader

Co-chair of the Senate Commerce Committee

Member:
Senate Committees on Federal and State Affairs
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Interstate Cooperation

Senate-House Joint Committees:
Administrative Rules and Regulations
Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight
Economic Development

Previous Committees
Financial Institutions & Insurance
Arts & Cultural Resources
Elections & Local Government
Public Health
Utilities
Commerce - Chairperson
Special Claims Against the State
1997-1998 Chairperson
1999-2000 Vice-chairperson

Senator Brownlee has also had many interim committee assignments in various areas including: Kansas Tourism, Local Government, Judiciary, Tax and Utilities

Councils, Groups &Task Forces
2007
National Council of State Legislatures. This is a national legislative conference for which Karin is the vice-chair for the Committee on Communication, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce.

1998
Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) Working Group on KUSF. This group studied the effects of telecommunication deregulation on Kansas phone consumers.

1997
Retail Wheeling Task Force. A study group working to determine the feasibility of electric deregulation

American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC is a national organization for legislators) - Executive Committee of Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force

Awards & Honors
2007
Pro-Jobs Legislator for the 2007 Legislative Session - The Kansas Chamber of Commerce

Strategic Planning for Growth of the State of Kansas - Kansas, Inc.

2004
Stewardship Award - the Kansas Cable & Telecommunications Association

2003
Community Leadership Award - Leadership Olathe

2000
Friend of Kansas Business Award - Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Physician Appreciation Award for Prompt Pay Legislation - Medical Society of Johnson and Wyandot County

1999
Guardian of Small Business - NFIB