Gov. Kelly named president of Council of State Governments

Gov. Laura Kelly

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly recently was named 2020 national president of The Council of State Governments (CSG).

“It’s an honor to serve as CSG president this year. The Council plays a valuable role in bringing together elected leaders from both parties to facilitate productive, policy-driven dialogue, and find solutions to the problems we face,” Kelly said. “I always valued its counsel and expertise as a senator and a Henry Toll fellow, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Council’s president.”

Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. CSG offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.

CSG’s mission is to champion excellence in state governments to advance the common good. The organization’s values reflect the governor’s values: nonpartisan and inclusive, respect diversity and act with civility, partner and collaborate with others and foster leadership development.

While in the Kansas Senate, Kelly was selected for the one of the nation’s premier leadership development programs for state government officials, the CSG Henry Toll Fellowship Program. More information on this program can be found at this link: https://www.csg.org/LeadershipCenter/TollFellows.aspx

Kelly will be the fourth female governor to serve as president of CSG since the organization’s founding in 1933, and the third Kansas governor, along with Gov. Frank Carlson and Gov. John Anderson Jr.

Kelly with serve alongside the national chair, Republican Rep. Joan Ballweg from Wisconsin.

“This is a special year to take on this role at CSG, given that 2020 is also the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment,” Kelly said. “In fact in Kansas, for the first time in our state’s history, women serve as the helm of all three branches of state government, with a female governor, a female chief justice and a female president of the Kansas Senate all presiding.”

Former Gov. Colyer appointed to chair national committee on rural health and human services

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer (File photo)

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer has been appointed to serve as chair of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services.

The appointment was announced Thursday by HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

Colyer, a surgeon by training, will be the fifth chair in the 32-history of the committee and the second chair from Kansas, after former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker, who served during the Bush administration, according to the announcement.

Colyer’s appointment coincides with actions the HHS secretary has taken recently to bring more attention to rural health.

The committee advises the HHS secretary on access to, deliver of and financing for health care and human services in rural areas. The committee produces policy briefs and reports on key rural issues, with recommendations to address the challenges.

Kultala named KDOT public affairs manager for KC metro area

Kelly Kultala

Kelly Kultala has been named the Kansas Department of Transportation’s public affairs manager for the Kansas City metro area, in addition to her role as public affairs manager for District 1, by Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz.

Kultala joined KDOT in August 2019 is a licensed Realtor and owned her own public affairs business. Previously she was the first woman elected to the Kansas State Senate from Wyandotte County and was the ranking minority member of the Senate Transportation Committee where she was part of the leadership team that crafted the T-Works Transportation Plan. She served the 5th District.

“I have a lot of respect for the work that KDOT does and I have been extremely impressed with Secretary Lorenz and the leadership team,” Kultala said in a news release. “I’m very excited to be a part of such a great organization.”

Kultala has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Kansas.