Kansas Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers has been tapped by Gov. Laura Kelly to be the next state treasurer.
Rogers will succeed Republican Jake LaTurner, who was elected to Congress last month in the state’s 2nd District. Rogers spoke at the Capitol Thursday morning.
“As state treasurer I look forward to the unique opportunities in developing partnerships with the Office of Rural Prosperity and other elected officials to really address and determine how the programs and services that are currently in the treasurer’s office can help to address the current needs of Kansans,” he said.
Rogers begins in his new role at the Treasury Monday. As for who will be the next lieutenant governor, Kelly wasn’t ready to reveal her choice Thursday.
“We have made the selection. We will announce that on Monday,” she said.
Kelly praised Rogers for his extensive banking background and hard work, noting the best person for the job, in her opinion was across the hall at the Statehouse.
“Who better than somebody who spent their entire career in banking, but also has a long history of public service to be able to combine those two for the office of state treasurer,” she said.
Prior to joining Kelly’s ticket in 2018, Rogers was a state senator from Wichita for one term. His private sector career saw him working for Citibank in Chicago as well as in agricultural finance in Kansas before starting in politics.
As for the selection of a Democrat to fill an elected position held by a Republican, Kelly stated Kansans can evaluate her decision in two years, as Rogers plans to seek a four year term in 2022.
“The people of Kansas elected Lynn Rogers to be lieutenant governor so I know they like him and they will have a chance two years from now to determine if they want him to continue in the state treasurer’s office. I have no doubt they will, because I have no doubt that he will do a stellar job,” she said.
But Kelly’s predecessor and possible gubernatorial challenger in 2022, former Gov. Jeff Colyer disagrees, blasting Kelly’s decision on Twitter Thursday.
“She substituted her partisan preferences for the votes of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who opted for Republican leadership,” Colyer said.
Kelly’s choice for her lieutenant governor is unclear, though she told reporters in Topeka Thursday her selection was shaped by the need for a strong leader and someone who could step into her role if necessary.
