Kansas lawmakers - some of them anyway - are mad as heck that Secretary of Commerce David Kerr has resigned to take a similar post in, of all places, Missouri.
Especially since Kerr led recent attempts to lure a $414 million Cerner Corp. office complex and KC Wizards soccer stadium project to Kansas City, Kan. from Missouri. Developers of the project have yet to accept Kansas' incentive offer; some Kansas lawmakers worry Missouri may have a counter proposal.
"We are floored beyond belief that the Secretary of Commerce, in the midst of a major negotiation with Cerner to bring Missouri jobs to Kansas would switch teams," said Rep. Kevin Yoder, an Overland Park Republican. "It’s the equivalent of switching teams in the middle of the world series."
Yoder, who pressured Kerr to close the Cerner deal two weeks ago, worries that Kerr might have been more interested in impressing his new employer than negotiating a good deal for his old one.
"We thought his No. 1 goal was to bring jobs to Kansas, but we find out now he was working to take his own job to Missouri," Yoder said.
Joe Monaco, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said Kerr's move was motivated by family. He wanted to be closer to a son and grandson living in St. Louis.
Kerr is not subject to a non-competition requirement, so he's free to work for the Sunflower State's chief rival.
Other lawmakers aren't mad as much as they are surprised by Thursday's announcement.
Sen. David Wysong, a Mission Hills Republican who leads the Senate Commerce Committee, said Missouri could benefit from Kerr's time in Kansas, but not because Kansas' eco devo playbook is top secret.
"There's a possibility that Missouri could pick up some expertise," Wysong said. "But I don't know if he's going to give any secrets away."
Wysong brought up another reason that may have prompted Kerr to look for a new job. The secretary serves at the pleasure of Gov. Mark Parkinson, who is not running for another term when his current one expires in a year.
And with the Democrats still lacking a candidate for governor, many Statehouse watchers predict the GOP will retake the governor's mansion. If that happened, Kerr would likely be looking for a job in a year anyway.
Wysong said he'll miss Kerr.
"I’ve worked very well with Secretary Kerr," he said. "He’s been very upfront with me. We haven’t agreed on everything, but when I’ve needed him he’s always been there."
Don't ya just love the self-rightous hypocrites when they ...
get all indignent.....and yes, Wysong, I am sure Kerr was there for you when you needed him, you a whole bunch of others. These are the lowlifes that switch from elected office to government positions to private business and are killing the people. Come on, tell me again how indignant you are for what Kerr is doing ............you will be calling him next week wanting some favor or information from him.