Wichita - Governor-Elect Sam Brownback named two Wichita men to serve as his Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority and Secretary of Aging.
Brownback said both Curtis Whitten for JJA Commissioner and Shawn Sullivan for Aging Secretary will play a vital role in implementing my Road Map for Kansas, particularly in the area of protecting families.
"Protecting families is deeper than you might think. Yes, it means that we will fight crime. Yes, it means that we will attempt to make change our laws to stop discrimination against those who would chose to marry and build a family," Brownback said.
Brownback continued, "But it also means working with children in detention to grow into productive members of society who can someday raise children of their own. We want to provide him and his family the tools he needs to get back on the right path and not commit another crime that lands him back in trouble. Curtis Whitten will do that."
Curtis Whitten has dedicated his professional career to law enforcement. He's worked for the state's corrections department as a court service officer and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as a criminal investigator. He spent 13 years as an investigator for the Sedgwick County Public Defender's office. He is president and CEO of VendTech Enterprise which provides armed and unarmed security for commercial and government facilities, does background checks and private investigations and serves subpoenas. He serves on the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and the Governors Task Force on Racial Profiling. Curtis' passion is helping youth stay focused on the right path to adult and is president of the Wichita Metro Youth Football League.
"Through the trials and tribulations of my juvenile and adult years my life has been a journey towards success. What I have learned, seen, and experienced has shaped my perspective and my heart and compels me to be an impactful change in this world. Accepting the Commissioner position with the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority is a natural progression that will take the passion and work ethic I have demonstrated in my own community and city, and multiple its effectiveness. To me, this appointment signifies a new beginning for all the youth across the face of this great state," Whitten said.
INFORMATION TAKEN FROM WICHITA EAGLE AND WIBW.COM
