WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Former members of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission say politics is holding up the appointment of an executive director.
The Wichita Eagle reports that former commission members said the board last summer interviewed several potential leaders for the commission and chose three. The selections were presented to the governor, but none was approved.
James Barfield of Wichita was involved in the selection process before his commission appointment expired in June. He says people were disqualified because they weren’t Republicans. He says the administration wants to “micromanage the board.”
Brownback’s spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says she can’t discuss the specifics of interviews or hiring decisions but that the administration strives to select the best candidate to serve the commission and Kansas residents.