Welcome to my website!

I am humbled and honored to serve you. I take 
my commitment very seriously and I promise to 
continue to work hard for you.  Please contact me
about issues on which I may be able to help.
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   
   
  Personal:
 

I was born July 9, 1953 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of the late Crayton and Virginia Benton. We relocated to Shawnee, Kansas in 1963.

I married the love of my life and my best friend, Randy Benlon, May 19, 1972. We lived in the current District 22 from 1979 through 1982. We moved to Shawnee and lived there for 24 years. We continued to own our District 22 home knowing one day we wanted to return. When Randy retired, we sold our Shawnee home and returned to our former Overland Park home.

We have two sons, C. Ryan (1978) and Adam (1980). Both sons are married. We have two beautiful and wonderful daughters-in-law, two gorgeous granddaughters, and one precious grandson.

I am a survivor of breast cancer, Ryan is a survivor of malignant melanoma, and Adam is currently being treated for colon cancer.
   
   
  Education:
   
  Randy and I were fortunate to attend the Shawnee Mission Public School system. Randy and I, as well as our two sons, graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. All of us graduated from Kansas public colleges.

 
 
   
  Career Background:
 

I was manager of an accounting office for a major department store. I worked there for 17 years.

I ran for public office and spent 15 years in public service. I was elected twice as a Shawnee councilmember and served twelve years as a state representative serving southern Shawnee and northern Lenexa (District 17). I chose not to run for re-election in 2002.

During the six years since my last legislative service, I spent 2 years working in the accounting department for a steel fabricating company and 4 years lobbying the Kansas legislature for issues important to the American Cancer Society.

Former State Representative Sue Storm asked me to run for her seat when she retired to run for the State Board of Education. I am honored have been elected to serve the constituents of the 22nd district.
   
   
  My Committee Assignments:
   
  I have been appointed to serve as the Ranking Minority Member of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee and as a member of the House Tax Committee, the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, and the Joint Economic Development Committee.
   
   
  Lisa Benlon in the Community Past and Present:
 
  • Elected twice to the Shawnee City Council
  • Elected seven times to the Kansas House of Representatives
  • Johnson County Community College Foundation Board
  • Involved with the SMNW CCC Class
  • Mission trip to Guatemala, Central America with Habitat for Humanity
  • Visited Kansas National Guard troops in Germany on a ‘good-will’ tour
  • Visited Kansas National Guard troops in Belize, Central America
  • Boy Scouts of America volunteer
  • President of Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition
  • Johnson County Substance Abuse Services board member
  • YMCA board member
  • Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Lenexa Chamber of Commerce
  • Founder of the Shawnee Garden Club
  • Junior Softball coach
  • School volunteer
  • Member of the Shawnee United Methodist Church
   
  “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” -- Marjorie Moore, Belleville, IL