Acting Kansas wildlife and parks secretary outlines priorities at confirmation hearing

Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy appeared before the Kansas Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources for a confirmation hearing, summarizing his background, agency priorities and policy positions and answering senators’ questions. The committee did not vote on confirmation during the session; the hearing was suspended and will resume at a later date.

Kennedy, who said he has served as acting secretary for about 10 months and has 33 years of experience in fisheries and conservation work, told senators he intends to use the Wildlife and Parks Commission as “identified in statute” and does not plan to change that statutory role. “I have no intention of changing the role of the commission,” Kennedy said. He described the commission’s statutory function as proposing, modifying, approving or denying fish and wildlife regulations and said changes to that arrangement would require a statute change.

Kennedy presented agency priorities that include fiscal responsibility,…