Gov. Sam Brownback’s campaign recently approached a Westar Energy official for a campaign debt donation while the utility is in the process of seeking a  rate increase.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a Brownback campaign official contacted Mark Schreiber, Westar’s government affairs vice president, more than a week ago looking for help retiring debt from the governor’s successful re-election campaign last year.

The contact with Schreiber takes place when Westar is requesting a $152 million rate increase from the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says Brownback’s office doesn’t influence the KCC’s operations or decision-making.

Westar spokeswoman Gina Penzig acknowledges the request to Schreiber and says it was referred to Westar Employees’ Political Action Committee, which hasn’t made a decision on it yet.
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