Meet Mark Samsel
Born and raised in the District, Mark learned the Kansas values of hard work, integrity, and compassion at an early age. Growing up in Wellsville, he spent countless hours on his grandparents’ family farms out near Melvern Lake, where his family has resided, farmed, hunted, trapped, and taught since before Kansas joined the Union in 1861. Mark has fond memories of waking up at the crack of dawn to gather eggs and milk the goats, helping Grandpa drive the tractors and combines, and walking the bean fields and pastures to pull weeds and thistles. You couldn’t beat the wiener roasts during the summer or large family Christmas gatherings.
As a small-town kid, sports were a constant. Basketball, baseball, soccer, and track kept him and his whole family busy. In addition to playing, Mark also started officiating at an early age. Mark got his first summer job at age 14 where he worked maintenance for minimum wage ($5.15/hour!) and learned the value of saving. He remembers spending 9/11/2001 on the brick streets of Wellsville with lines for gasoline stretching the length of town. To this day, his hometown still has just one flashing red stoplight on Main Street, which still hosts an annual car show and Junior/Senior Prom Walk. As a child and teenager, Mark competed all around the District, including Princeton (soccer), Anderson County, Osawatomie, Jayhawk-Linn, Prairie View, Baldwin, Paola, and Ottawa.
Guided by his conservative roots, sense of justice, and desire to do what is best for his community, Mark worked his way through college. He earned degrees in business and political science. With his passion to help others, he served three years as a resident assistant and hall director, leading residents from all over the country and the world. Recognizing that many of our best leaders at the time had law degrees, Mark then attended the University of Kansas School of Law to gain further skills to serve others.
During law school, Mark helped his Jayhawks win the Orange Bowl and NCAA National Championship. By that, he means he supported them on Massachusetts Street. He gained invaluable experience in public policy, law, and legislative issues. After graduating from KU Law, Mark worked for a large law firm in Overland Park where he served clients both big and small, and both local and all around the country. As a lawyer, Mark received many accolades for his client service and problem-solving skills. He practiced law in a large number of industries, including business, construction, employment, railroad, education, local government, family disputes, estates and trusts, and pro bono.
With this broad experience, Mark furthered his leadership skills by taking classes through Leadership Overland Park and KC Tomorrow. He has also volunteered with a number of other organizations focused on sports, youth, law, and education. Mark is an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Sporting KC.
Mark has little patience for politicians, who are more focused on their own careers than what’s best for the people who elected them to serve. Instead, he strives to be like Statesmen Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Dole, and Bill Graves, and to always put the people of his District first.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling. Some of his favorite memories include Spring Training in Arizona, a trip through Spain, Italy, and Germany, interning on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, and spending time along the ocean in Miami, San Diego, and Seattle. After visiting many different places, Mark is convinced that there’s truly no place like home, and there’s no better people than the good, hard-working folks of House District 5.
Favorite Quote:
“People talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. Actually, all human problems, excepting morals, come into the gray areas. Things are not all black and white. There have to be compromises. The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Favorite Bible Verse:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23.
One of Mark’s most prized possessions is a 2015 World Series baseball autographed and given to him by KC Royals pitcher Danny Duffy. While warming up for the game against the San Francisco Giants, Duffy inscribed the baseball with the above Bible verse. It goes to show that a small gesture can make a world of difference.
As a small-town kid, sports were a constant. Basketball, baseball, soccer, and track kept him and his whole family busy. In addition to playing, Mark also started officiating at an early age. Mark got his first summer job at age 14 where he worked maintenance for minimum wage ($5.15/hour!) and learned the value of saving. He remembers spending 9/11/2001 on the brick streets of Wellsville with lines for gasoline stretching the length of town. To this day, his hometown still has just one flashing red stoplight on Main Street, which still hosts an annual car show and Junior/Senior Prom Walk. As a child and teenager, Mark competed all around the District, including Princeton (soccer), Anderson County, Osawatomie, Jayhawk-Linn, Prairie View, Baldwin, Paola, and Ottawa.
Guided by his conservative roots, sense of justice, and desire to do what is best for his community, Mark worked his way through college. He earned degrees in business and political science. With his passion to help others, he served three years as a resident assistant and hall director, leading residents from all over the country and the world. Recognizing that many of our best leaders at the time had law degrees, Mark then attended the University of Kansas School of Law to gain further skills to serve others.
During law school, Mark helped his Jayhawks win the Orange Bowl and NCAA National Championship. By that, he means he supported them on Massachusetts Street. He gained invaluable experience in public policy, law, and legislative issues. After graduating from KU Law, Mark worked for a large law firm in Overland Park where he served clients both big and small, and both local and all around the country. As a lawyer, Mark received many accolades for his client service and problem-solving skills. He practiced law in a large number of industries, including business, construction, employment, railroad, education, local government, family disputes, estates and trusts, and pro bono.
With this broad experience, Mark furthered his leadership skills by taking classes through Leadership Overland Park and KC Tomorrow. He has also volunteered with a number of other organizations focused on sports, youth, law, and education. Mark is an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Sporting KC.
Mark has little patience for politicians, who are more focused on their own careers than what’s best for the people who elected them to serve. Instead, he strives to be like Statesmen Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Dole, and Bill Graves, and to always put the people of his District first.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling. Some of his favorite memories include Spring Training in Arizona, a trip through Spain, Italy, and Germany, interning on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, and spending time along the ocean in Miami, San Diego, and Seattle. After visiting many different places, Mark is convinced that there’s truly no place like home, and there’s no better people than the good, hard-working folks of House District 5.
Favorite Quote:
“People talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. Actually, all human problems, excepting morals, come into the gray areas. Things are not all black and white. There have to be compromises. The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Favorite Bible Verse:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23.
One of Mark’s most prized possessions is a 2015 World Series baseball autographed and given to him by KC Royals pitcher Danny Duffy. While warming up for the game against the San Francisco Giants, Duffy inscribed the baseball with the above Bible verse. It goes to show that a small gesture can make a world of difference.