Kansas Senate committee recommends 10 gubernatorial nominees to full Senate after public questioning

The Kansas Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee voted unanimously on a voice vote Thursday to recommend 10 gubernatorial nominees to the full Senate after each appeared or was introduced and answered senators' questions.

The nominees covered a range of state boards and positions, including the Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas Department of Revenue property valuation director, the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and two finance-related authorities. The committee heard brief remarks from several nominees and asked questions about conflicts of interest, student affordability and recent property valuation increases.

Committee Chair Blasey opened the meeting by noting the panel’s unusual role: when the full Senate is in recess, the committee holds the constitutional power to confirm certain gubernatorial appointments. He read a list of the 10 nominees and invited those present to speak; five of the first group were reappointments who were not required to appear.

Gordon Lansford III, nominee to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority, described his background as a CPA and CEO of JE Dunn Construction Company and said he hoped his experience on payer and provider boards would “drive collaboration” to improve health-care outcomes and control costs. When asked about a possible conflict from serving simultaneously on the board of a major insurer, Lansford said he would “recuse and abstain” where appropriate and would not use the authority “to get a better deal” for Blue Cross.

Bob Kent, nominated for director of property valuation at the Kansas Department of Revenue, summarized a 35-year career in public-sector appraisal work and said the post-COVID period produced unusually rapid valuation increases. Kent told senators he had not seen similar statewide appraisal growth in his experience and framed recent increases as market-driven trends rather than administrative error.

Kimberly Brown, nominated to the Kansas Development Finance Authority and the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, and Pamela Clancy Amar, nominated as a regent on the Kansas Board of Regents, each outlined careers in finance, higher education and public service and answered senators’ questions about priorities. Regent Kathy Wolfmore, a governor’s reappointment to the Board of Regents, described initiatives she had encountered during her first months on the board, including student success efforts, applied learning programs and the department’s guidance to universities about compliance with a recent law on diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

Senators questioned nominees about several recurring topics: potential conflicts of interest (in Lansford’s case, his simultaneous board service), statewide property valuation increases (addressed by Kent), higher education affordability and workforce alignment (addressed by Amar and Wolfmore) and compliance with recent state law on DEI (addressed by Wolfmore). Wolfmore said the Board of Regents’ office had issued guidance to universities mirroring statutory language and that universities had been asked to certify compliance by a July 31 deadline; she said the board office and campuses were working to address questions and implementation details.

At the meeting’s close, Minority Leader Sykes moved to recommend all 10 nominees to the full Senate; Vice President Schonberger seconded the motion. The committee held a voice vote; members present responded “aye,” and Chair Blasey declared the nominees recommended for confirmation to the full Senate.

Votes at a glance

- Alicia Sanchez — Kansas Human Rights Commission — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appearance not required) - James Secura — KPERS board of trustees — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appearance not required) - Joanne Yoon — KPERS board of trustees — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appearance not required) - Brandon Jones — Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appearance not required) - Monika Holloway — Kansas Development Finance Authority — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appearance not required) - Gordon Lansford III — University of Kansas Hospital Authority — Recommended to full Senate (nominee; appeared) - Bob Kent — Kansas Department of Revenue, director of property valuation — Recommended to full Senate (nominee; appeared) - Kimberly Brown — Kansas Development Finance Authority & Kansas Housing Resource Corporation — Recommended to full Senate (nominee; appeared) - Pamela Clancy Amar — Kansas Board of Regents — Recommended to full Senate (nominee; appeared) - Kathy Wolfmore — Kansas Board of Regents — Recommended to full Senate (reappointment; appeared)

Chair Blasey closed the meeting after thanking nominees for their willingness to serve. The committee’s recommendation now moves each nomination to the full Kansas Senate for confirmation votes or further action.