TOPEKA, Kan. — A House committee has passed a bill that would end a governor’s authority to fill the offices of state treasurer and insurance commissioner if those posts become vacant in the middle of a term.
The move comes about two months after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly named her 2018 running mate, former Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers, as state treasurer to fill a vacancy created when Republican Kansas Rep. Jake LaTurner left the post for Congress. The Kansas Republican Party objected to Kelly’s appointment of a Democrat.
The legislation passed Tuesday provides for a convention of delegates belonging to the departing official’s party to decide who fills a vacancy.
