TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Gov. Sam Brownback is preparing to name a new secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Brownback scheduled a news conference for late Friday morning, saying he would introduce his newest Cabinet secretary. His aides declined to identify the new secretary before the event.
Barb Rankin, former KDOT chief attorney, became acting secretary in December following the resignation of Deb Miller. Miller stepped down after nearly nine years to take a job in the private sector.
The department is two years into a 10-year, $8.2 billion program of highway, bridge and other transportation projects. KDOT has about 2,800 employees and a total budget of $1.6 billion, making it one of the state’s largest agencies.
