Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission accepts executive director resignation, names hiring subcommittee

The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission on Jan. 22 accepted the resignation of Executive Director Mark Skoglund, approved a motion to move him into a transitional support role with limits on public advocacy and appointed a hiring subcommittee to search for his replacement.

Commissioner Berger moved the measure, saying the panel would "accept the resignation effective, immediately, that the separation date will be as, stated in the letter of February 15," and that Skoglund would transition into a transitional role and "is from this point going forward not authorized to speak on behalf of the commission, or its individual members, specifically refraining from legislative testimony or social media communications for the ethics commissions or formal proclamations." The commission voted to approve the motion after amendments; commissioners verbalized assent and the chair declared the motion passed.

Why it matters: the executive director serves as the agency head for the state ethics commission and typically represents the agency before the legislature and in budget proceedings. Commissioners said the motion was intended to preserve day-to-day operations while the commission hires a replacement, and to set guardrails about which matters the departing director may address publicly during the transition.

Key details and votes - The commission approved a motion that: accepted Skoglund's resignation (with the separation date described in his letter of Feb. 15); retained Bull Stewart as general counsel to provide legal continuity; directed that ongoing investigations and staff functions continue; limited Skoglund's authority to speak for the commission (including legislative testimony and social media); and created a subcommittee to lead the search for a new executive director. The commission debated whether legislative and budget advocacy should be handled by the interim structure or by Skoglund during the transition. Commissioner Ramirez, Commissioner Claussen, and Commissioner Jackson were named to the hiring subcommittee; the chair will serve ex officio.

- Earlier in the meeting the commission acted on two complaint items. One item numbered 802 was found "insufficient," and another item numbered 793 was accepted for dismissal. Those motions were made and seconded and the chair announced they passed.

Debate and clarifications Director Mark Skoglund objected to portions of the motion as originally drafted, saying he had scheduled leave to handle budget hearings and that preventing him from participating in budget or legislative matters would hamper the office's ability to respond to the legislature in the near term. "I intentionally scheduled my dates of leave to be able to handle budget hearings, which is also my area of expertise. I built this budget," Skoglund said during the discussion. He asked for clear, written guardrails on what he would be permitted to discuss while serving in a transitional role.

Commissioners sought to limit the transition role to administrative or ministerial functions while channeling legislative and budget advocacy through staff or an interim arrangement. The commission amended the motion so that Skoglund may defend legislative proposals that were consistent with the annual report but would consult the chair on other legislative requests; commissioners said they could call emergency meetings if legislative testimony came up on short notice.

Investigations and operations Commissioners and counsel discussed ongoing investigations. The commission clarified that investigations already under way would continue and that investigators and counsel would carry forward investigative work; the motion as amended did not halt investigations. Commissioners discussed possible conflicts if a departing executive director remained involved in matters in which he had played an investigative or witness role, and commissioners said investigative filings and new complaint initiations would generally be handled by investigators or counsel rather than the departing director.

Procedural items and next steps The commission announced the hiring subcommittee members (Ramirez, Claussen, Jackson) and said it aimed to interview candidates the week before the Feb. 26 commission meeting. The commission set its next regular meeting for Feb. 26, 2025. The chair closed the meeting by thanking Director Skoglund for his service.

Votes at a glance - Complaint item 802: motion found the matter insufficient — motion approved (no roll-call tally provided in the transcript). - Complaint item 793: motion to accept dismissal — motion approved (no roll-call tally provided in the transcript). - Transition/resignation motion: motion approved after amendment; hiring subcommittee appointed (no roll-call tally provided in the transcript).

Ending The commission concluded its Jan. 22 meeting with instructions to staff and counsel to continue operations during the transition and with a pledge to prioritize filling the executive director vacancy at the earliest practical date.