TOPEKA | Gov. Mark Parkinson nominated William Thornton to be Kansas’ next Secretary of Commerce, a day after the current secretary resigned to take a similar job in Missouri.
Thornton, 57 and an Atchison resident, is a former chairman of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. He worked as an executive at MGP Ingredients and Hallmark Cards, and is an attorney. He’s also a member of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Parkinson dismissed concerns about the outgoing secretary, David Kerr, taking a job in Missouri as the two states battle for a $414 million economic development project that promises to create 4,500 jobs.
Kansas has offered $229.5 million to convince Cerner Corp. and the Kansas City Wizards to build an office complex and soccer stadium in Kansas City, Kan. Missouri has also sought the project.
Several top Republican lawmakers in Kansas reacted angrily to Kerr’s resignation Thursday, questioning whether he aggressively pursued the Cerner project if he was seeking a job in Missouri. Some suggested he had betrayed his native state by defecting during the negotiations. House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, called Kerr’s move “the most unethical thing I have ever heard of.”
Parkinson fired back this morning, saying he gave Kerr his blessing to interview for the job. Parkinson said the state’s final incentives offer to Cerner was completed before Kerr interviewed. He said GOP lawmakers were being uncivil in attacking Kerr.
He said lawmakers should “treat fellow officeholders as human beings, and no as targets of abuse.”
Parkinson said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon called Kerr three weeks ago to discuss the job; Kerr asked Parkinson for permission to interview. Parkinson said Kerr wanted to move closer to his son’s family in Missouri.
“Dave told me that if I wanted him to say no, he wouldn’t even interview,” Parkinson said.
And he defended Kerr’s handling of the Cerner negotiations, saying the state made the most aggressive offer it could while still balancing its responsibilities to taxpayers footing the bill. Cerner has yet to act on the state’s offer.
“We have offered the maximum that could be offered,” he said. He limits placed on the state’s promise to repay bonds for the project are meant to limit the state’s exposure on the project.
As for Thornton, Parkinson praised him as the right man for the job at the right time.
“He comes from the private sector,” he said. “He’s not a politician… he’s a business person who knows how to get things done.”
Thornton, who said he was laid off from his most recent position at MGP last summer, said he understands the challenges the recession poses for businesses. He said he’ll work to recruit new businesses to come to Kansas, but won’t let that be his only focus.
“We can’t forget about continuing to help businesses that are already in Kansas,” Thornton said.
Thornton’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
