(Updated to correct Jeff King’s title in the Senate)
Secretary of State-elect Scott Schwab on Wednesday announced the hiring of new staffers, including a political adviser to outgoing Gov. Jeff Colyer, a manager with AT&T and a top official in the banking commissioner’s office.
He also announced that he will keep the current state elections director as well as the general counsel for the secretary of state’s office.
Schwab announced his chief of staff will be Catherine Gunsalus, who was the incoming secretary’s top aide when he was speaker pro tem in the House. Gunsalus also managed Schwab’s secretary of state’s campaign.
Clay Barker, former executive director of the Kansas Republican Party and an adviser to Colyer, is joining the secretary of state’s office as deputy general counsel.
Katie Koupal will serve as deputy assistant secretary of state for communications and policy. She most recently worked as the area manager for external affairs at AT&T.
She also worked as chief of staff for former Senate Vice President Jeff King and served as political director in the Kansas House when Mike O’Neal presided as speaker. She also was political director for the Kansas Republican Party in 2010.
Jennifer Cook will work deputy assistant secretary of state for business services. Cook now is employed as deputy bank commissioner for consumer and mortgage lending for the state banking commissioner.
She also worked as grants administrator for former Gov. Sam Brownback and deputy legislative director for U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts.
Sandy Tompkins will join the staff as deputy assistant secretary of state for administration. She previously worked as office administrator and executive assistant to the president of Heritage Christian Academy in Olathe.
Schwab will keep Bryan Caskey as deputy assistant secretary for elections and Garrett Roe as general counsel in the role of deputy assistant secretary of state.
