TOPEKA ? The fate of David Toland?s candidacy to head the state?s economic development rests with 40 Kansas senators, who will bring with them a panel?s vote to reject his nomination.
A divided Senate committee sparred back and forth Thursday before voting, 6-5, to reject the Iolan?s nomination to become secretary of commerce.
When the full Senate brings his nomination to a vote is the next question. By law, the Senate must vote on his confirmation within five working days of the committee?s recommendation. It?s also possible the Legislature could adjourn within those five days, which would push his nomination vote to late spring.
THE TWO-DAY confirmation hearing was capped with open bickering back-and-forth amongst the senators who questioned Toland?s experience in a number of areas, including the agriculture and aviation industries and workforce development; grilled him on comments he made at a Medicaid expansion rally in Topeka last April; continued discussion about a suddenly much-ballyhooed social media post they said was derogatory against a Republican colleague; and referred to letters they?ve received urging them to ?look more? into Toland?s past.
Acting Kansas Commerce Secretary David Toland stands in front of a crowded hearing room as a Senate panel discusses his nomination to become the secretary full time.
SEN. GENE Suellentrop, R-Wichita, started Thursday?s proceedings by quizzing Toland on his lack of experience in a number of areas, most notably agriculture and exporting related to the aviation industry. He asked about Toland?s experience in working with STAR bonds and other economic development tools the Department of Commerce has at its disposal.
He also questioned Toland?s desire to bring additional businesses to the state when many state businesses have been hindered by a workforce shortage.
?We need somebody with a strong depth of knowledge of what the state?s about,? Suellentrop said. ?There is a substantial shortfall in your application in work experience and administration of what your past job performance has been.?
Toland, in response, pointed to his 18 years of experience in economic development sectors in both urban and rural settings.
?By comparison, my predecessor was a soccer coach and a hand model,? Toland said, referring to Antonio Soave, who was appointed by former Gov. Sam Brownback in 2015 and later confirmed, 38-0, by senators before resigning in 2017 amid a cloud of accusations of financial misdeeds.
?I?ve been the most outspoken critic of the previous two? commerce secretaries, Suellentrop replied. ?I don?t think three is a charm.?
SEN. ERIC Rucker, R-Topeka, spent his allotted five minutes in asking Toland about his comments at a Medicaid expansion rally outside the State Capitol in April 2018, centering on one quote in particular: ?I am not proud of legislators that bottle up bills supported by 80 percent of the people in our state, never letting them see the light of day,? Toland was quoted as saying. ?I?m not proud of people protecting political fortune over protecting people?s lives.?
Toland noted his speech was in support of Medicaid expansion, and that he was not singling out specific legislators. ?My words are what they are,? he said.
?We?re talking about tone and maintaining a tone with the Legislature, specifically those you ask now to support you,? Rucker told Toland. ?We must be careful of our tone with one another in order to preserve bipartisan support. You would agree with that??
?I do,? Toland said. ?I?ve operated for 11 years as a conservative Democrat in a county that voted, I think, over 60 percent for President Trump. This is a red county, where I?ve worked alongside people to get things done. I think that is reflective of my values, of my characteristics and how I operate.?
