A lobbyist who used to work as Gov. Sam Brownback’s chief of staff is defending his confrontation with a Topeka teacher he claims was unprofessional in referencing the governor in her speech at a Model UN competition.

But witnesses tell The Topeka Capital-Journal that David Kensinger’s behavior was rude and hostile toward teacher Jenay Weekly, who says she was upset after being approached.

Weekly reviewed the competition’s history in her Monday speech, noting that organizers were pleased about securing Brownback as keynote speaker one year when he was a senator. She then asked, “Who could have known?”

Teachers say they interpreted the rhetorical question to mean that no one knew Brownback would later become governor.

Kensinger didn’t say how Weekly’s speech was inappropriate in his email to the newspaper.

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Associated Press information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal