Legislature
GOP governor says leadership of state government a full-time job
Posted: April 8, 2016 - 3:46pm
FILE PHOTO/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Sam Brownback pivoted away from a question Friday about whether he harbored interest in filling the impending vacancy at Kansas State University after President Kirk Schulz departs.
By Tim Carpenter
timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com
Gov. Sam Brownback pivoted away from a question Friday about whether he harbored interest in filling the impending vacancy at Kansas State University after President Kirk Schulz departs.
Brownback, who is barred by the Kansas Constitution from seeking another term in 2018, said during a Capitol news conference that he had his hands full operating the executive branch of Kansas government. However, he said football coach Bill Snyder should stay on the job at K-State.
“I am full-time occupied here. I’m not a candidate,” Brownback said. “I’m just hoping Bill Snyder stays another decade. We’ve got that stem cell center to keep him rolling.”
Schulz last month accepted the presidency at Washington State University. On Friday, he received a five-year contract with a base salary of $625,000 annually. In addition, his family will be provided a house in Pullman, Wash., and a condominium in the Seattle area. His duties at Washington State are to begin June 13.
Members of the Kansas State presidential search committee have yet to been announced, but Dennis Mullin, a Manhattan member of the Kansas Board of Regents, was chosen as chairman of the search committee. There are, of course, no formal candidates.
“It will be important for all parts of the K-State community to be represented, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, athletics, endowment and the wider Manhattan community,” Mullin said.
Mullin joined with six of the nine members of the Board of Regents to contribute to Brownback’s campaign treasury. Mission Hills resident Daniel Thomas and Wichita businessman Dave Murfin have been the most generous regents in terms of political donations to Brownback.
The Board of Regents will identify an interim president, who would take over after Schulz leaves in mid-May. The final decision about hiring a replacement for Schulz would be made by the Board of Regents, which is composed of individuals appointed by Brownback.
Brownback, a former member of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, is a graduate of K-State’s College of Agriculture and earned a law degree at the University of Kansas. He also was student body president at K-State.
He wouldn’t be the first Kansas governor to be mentioned as a potential chief executive of a state university. In 1986, Gov. John Carlin was among 45 semifinalists for the job eventually accepted by Jon Wefald. Schulz has been president of the land-grant university since 2009.
The search for a new chancellor at the University of Kansas led seven years ago to speculation Gov. Kathleen Sebelius might be under review. She resigned as governor to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said consideration of Brownback for president at K-State could get complicated for members of the Board of Regents who were selected by the governor and contributed to his election campaigns.
“There would be a huge conflict of interest since he appointed them,” Hensley said.
In 2013, Indiana Gov. Mitchell Daniels was selected president of Purdue University. He was the choice of the university’s trustees — all of whom were appointed or re-appointed by Daniels. He was director of the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush from 2001-2003. He also graduated from Princeton University and holds a law degree from Georgetown University.
In Oklahoma, David Boren was installed as president of the University of Oklahoma in 1994. He had served as a U.S. senator and governor, holding both elective offices after being awarded a Rhodes Scholar and earning a master’s degree and a law degree.
GOP governor says leadership of state government a full-time job
Posted: April 8, 2016 - 3:46pm
FILE PHOTO/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Sam Brownback pivoted away from a question Friday about whether he harbored interest in filling the impending vacancy at Kansas State University after President Kirk Schulz departs.
By Tim Carpenter
timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com
Gov. Sam Brownback pivoted away from a question Friday about whether he harbored interest in filling the impending vacancy at Kansas State University after President Kirk Schulz departs.
Brownback, who is barred by the Kansas Constitution from seeking another term in 2018, said during a Capitol news conference that he had his hands full operating the executive branch of Kansas government. However, he said football coach Bill Snyder should stay on the job at K-State.
“I am full-time occupied here. I’m not a candidate,” Brownback said. “I’m just hoping Bill Snyder stays another decade. We’ve got that stem cell center to keep him rolling.”
Schulz last month accepted the presidency at Washington State University. On Friday, he received a five-year contract with a base salary of $625,000 annually. In addition, his family will be provided a house in Pullman, Wash., and a condominium in the Seattle area. His duties at Washington State are to begin June 13.
Members of the Kansas State presidential search committee have yet to been announced, but Dennis Mullin, a Manhattan member of the Kansas Board of Regents, was chosen as chairman of the search committee. There are, of course, no formal candidates.
“It will be important for all parts of the K-State community to be represented, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, athletics, endowment and the wider Manhattan community,” Mullin said.
Mullin joined with six of the nine members of the Board of Regents to contribute to Brownback’s campaign treasury. Mission Hills resident Daniel Thomas and Wichita businessman Dave Murfin have been the most generous regents in terms of political donations to Brownback.
The Board of Regents will identify an interim president, who would take over after Schulz leaves in mid-May. The final decision about hiring a replacement for Schulz would be made by the Board of Regents, which is composed of individuals appointed by Brownback.
Brownback, a former member of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, is a graduate of K-State’s College of Agriculture and earned a law degree at the University of Kansas. He also was student body president at K-State.
He wouldn’t be the first Kansas governor to be mentioned as a potential chief executive of a state university. In 1986, Gov. John Carlin was among 45 semifinalists for the job eventually accepted by Jon Wefald. Schulz has been president of the land-grant university since 2009.
The search for a new chancellor at the University of Kansas led seven years ago to speculation Gov. Kathleen Sebelius might be under review. She resigned as governor to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said consideration of Brownback for president at K-State could get complicated for members of the Board of Regents who were selected by the governor and contributed to his election campaigns.
“There would be a huge conflict of interest since he appointed them,” Hensley said.
In 2013, Indiana Gov. Mitchell Daniels was selected president of Purdue University. He was the choice of the university’s trustees — all of whom were appointed or re-appointed by Daniels. He was director of the Office of Management and Budget for President George W. Bush from 2001-2003. He also graduated from Princeton University and holds a law degree from Georgetown University.
In Oklahoma, David Boren was installed as president of the University of Oklahoma in 1994. He had served as a U.S. senator and governor, holding both elective offices after being awarded a Rhodes Scholar and earning a master’s degree and a law degree.
