Gov. Laura Kelly (D) has announced that David Toland, Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce, will become Kansas’s newest Lieutenant Governor.
Toland will take over for Lynn Rogers (D), who will leave the position in January to become the Kansas State Treasurer.
“Replacing Lynn Rogers is no small task, but of all the candidates I considered, David is ready to hit the ground running in his new role,” Kelly said. “I have been impressed throughout his tenure as Commerce Secretary by his enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to economic development and business recruitment. I look forward to our continued partnership as he takes on his new responsibilities in the Lieutenant Governor’s office.”
Prior to joining the Kansas State Cabinet, Toland served as the CEO and president of Thrive Allen County, an organization that promotes economic development and physical health in Allen County, KS.
“I’m deeply honored to serve Governor Kelly and the people of Kansas in this additional capacity as Lieutenant Governor, and to continue the important work launched by Lieutenant Governor Rogers with the Office of Rural Prosperity,” Toland said. “Jobs and economic growth have never been more important than now, and building on the tremendous gains of the economic development team at the Department of Commerce will continue to be my focus going forward.”
Rogers has served as Kelly’s Lieutenant Governor since 2018. His transition Treasurer follows the election of Jake LaTurner (R) to the United States House of Representatives.
“David and I have worked closely over the past two years on our shared initiative to lead the Office of Rural Prosperity,” Rogers said. “I am impressed by his work ethic and his commitment to improving the lives of Kansans statewide. I know that he will make an excellent Lieutenant Governor and that he will smoothly transition into the new role.”
The Kansas Republican Party quickly responded to Kelly’s announcement, dubbing the decision as political.
“The appointment of Lynn Rogers to replace a duly-elected Republican in the State Treasurer’s office and now the subsequent move to replace him with a liberal partisan such as David Toland shows Laura Kelly has no interest in working with Republicans to achieve meaningful solutions in Topeka,” Mike Kuckelman, Kansas GOP chairman, said. “She’s simply interested in placating her far-left base.”
Once the positional changes take place in January, Toland will become Kansas’s 52nd Lieutenant Governor while Rogers will become the the 41st Kansas State Treasurer.
