Gov. Laura Kelly on Saturday said she was confident commerce secretary nominee David Toland would win Senate confirmation even though he took “quite a beating” in front of a legislative panel this week.
Speaking to several hundred people at a town hall meeting at Johnson County Community College, Kelly said Toland’s confirmation became mired in political “theatrics” this week when a Senate committee refused to endorse his confirmation.
“David Toland is by far the most qualified candidate for secretary of commerce that’s been put out there for a long time,” Kelly told the audience. “He’s a young guy, but he’s got 18 years experience in both urban and rural development.
“The response from our chambers of commerce, including Overland Park, has been phenomenal,” Kelly said. “They like this guy. They want this guy. They’re excited that he’ll be there.”
Kelly said she was confident that even though the committee “played a bunch of games” on Thursday, he will be confirmed on the Senate floor.
Her comments came after the Senate Commerce Committee recommended against Toland’s confirmation when questions were raised about his experience, comments he made at a Medicaid-expansion rally and a Facebook posting, among other things.
Republican senators peppered Toland with an array of questions during the two-day hearing, prompting him at one point to apologize for a Facebook post that suggestively mocked state Sen. Caryn Tyson and former Gov. Sam Brownback.
The hearing boiled over Thursday with Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland accusing Republicans of trying to smear the nominee at the prompting of political enemies from southeast Kansas.
Republican state Sen. Gene Suellentrop fired back at Holland, saying he was holding Toland just as accountable as he would any other cabinet nominee.
On Friday, Suellentrop probed Toland’s experience in agriculture, aviation manufacturing, workforce development and tax incentives. Based on the information submitted to the Senate, Suellentrop said he thought there was a “substantial shortfall” in Toland’s experience to run the Commerce Department.
Republican state Sen. Julia Lynn, chair of the Commerce Committee, said it was shameful for Kelly not to respect the legislative process.
“Mr. Toland is clearly unqualified and his work in Iola shows he has no experience of growing the economy or protecting businesses,” Lynn said in a text message.
“We need a strong, qualified person who will lead the Department of Commerce,” she wrote. “We don’t need a political operative who was nominated simply as a reward for serving as Laura Kelly’s campaign treasurer.”
Since 2008, Toland has worked as the president and chief executive officer of Thrive Allen County, a nonprofit that serves as the local economic development arm and bills itself as the largest rural health advocacy organization in Kansas.
Toland, who was Kelly’s campaign treasurer, is credited with helping win voter approval of a new critical-access hospital and passing a law that increased the smoking age to 21 in Allen County. Some supporters believe the smoking ordinance could have engendered political opposition in southeast Kansas.
Toland also worked for six years as an appointee of Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony A. Williams.
Toland served in a variety of roles in the district, including deputy chief operating officer in the office of the deputy mayor for planning and economic development.
He was later appointed as chief of staff in the office of planning, where he led the legislative effort to obtain city council approval of the 2006 overhaul of the city’s controversial comprehensive plan.
A number of economic development groups have endorsed Toland, including the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, the Council Grove/Morris County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and Republic County Economic Development.
“David’s portfolio of economic development success is illustrative of the innovation and collaboration needed in our next secretary of commerce,” the Overland Park chamber’s president, Tracey Osborne Oltjen, wrote.
“He is experienced in working with both the public and private sector to create jobs and community prosperity, engaging the public and leveraging limited resources.”
Pittsburg State University’s chief strategy officer also backed Toland’s nomination to run the Commerce Department.
“The impact David made in (southeast Kansas) over the past decade cannot be overstated,” wrote Shawn Naccarato.
“While we hate to see him leave SEK,” Naccarato wrote, “I am so excited and optimistic about someone of his caliber of talent and commitment to advance the expansion of opportunity and prosperity for the entirety of our beloved state.”
