Print edition: 
TOPEKA — A bill to remove all qualifications for the job of Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks went before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee Wednesday afternoon.
Currently, those with the job are required to be qualified by education, training and experience in wildlife, parks or natural resources, or a related field. They also must have demonstrated the administrative skills needed to run a state agency.
Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe, spoke in favor of the change.
"Just because someone has experience and education doesn't mean he'll do a good job," Schwab said. "The governor should be able to appoint who he wants to appoint."
Similar bills were introduced in 2002 and 2006.
Both times the bills failed because of widespread criticism from those who feared a governor might use the position as a reward for campaign services or to serve special interest groups.
Schwab responded that such appointments would put the governor at the mercy of voters.
"A governor should be able to live and die by their appointments," he said.
Several in attendance spoke against the change, referring to when former Gov. Joan Finney largely ignored the qualifications and appointed Jack Lacey, a friend and retired mail carrier, to the position of secretary.
Lacey was forced from office within about two years after illegally issuing a hunter education certificate to the governor's daughter.
John Strickler of Manhattan has served as acting secretary twice and said the wide variety of constituents utilizing Wildlife and Parks programs plus the need to work within state and federal governments makes the qualifications very important.
Ron Klataske, of Audubon of Kansas, said some ongoing and successful management programs could be harmed by a secretary lacking experience and education.
"We do not want to revert to barber shop and bartender biology," Klataske said.
The bill is scheduled to be discussed within the committee this afternoon.
