Governor Sam Brownback has appointed former Republican Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler of Lindsborg to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Corporation Commission.

The appointment was announced Tuesday, less than a week before the start of the 2014 legislative session.

Emler, if confirmed by the Senate, would resign his seat and serve what remains of a four-year term on the KCC. He will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mark Sievers, who announced he was leaving the KCC in December.

Emler tells KSAL News that there is about a a year and a half left in the term. He could then be reappointed to a new four-year term.

Emler has been in the Senate since 2001, representing Chase, Ellsworth, Marion, McPherson and Morris counties. He serves on the Senate Utilities Committee and the Joint Committee on Kansas Security.

The three-member KCC regulates natural gas, electricity, telephone and transportation operations in Kansas.