Kansas Senate confirms commerce secretary, higher ed regents

TOPEKA – The Kansas Senate has approved Gov. Sam Brownback’s appointments of a new commerce secretary and three members of the board overseeing the state’s higher education system.

All four votes Thursday were 40-0.

Antonio Soave (SWAH'-vay) has served as interim commerce secretary since December.

He formerly was chairman and CEO of a company that helps businesses with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and expanding foreign markets.

Soave also previously coached college soccer and played professional soccer in Italy.

The three Board of Regents members confirmed Thursday were appointed by Brownback in June. They are David Murfin of Wichita, Dennis Mullin of Manhattan and Daniel Thomas of Mission Hills.

Murfin is CEO of an oil drilling and equipment company. Mullin is chairman of a steel and pipe supply firm. Thomas is a dentist.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Kansas Senate confirms commerce secretary, higher ed regents."