Governor Kelly Announces Administration Appointments

Posted June 5, 2026

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced on Thursday 25 appointments to the following state boards, commissions, and council.   

Kansas Sentencing Commission
Purpose: To develop a sentencing guideline model or grid based on fairness and equity and to provide a mechanism for linking justice and corrections policies. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Matt Leavitt, Andover
  • Jessica Glendening, Lawrence (reappointment) 
  • Jermaine Wilson, Leavenworth (reappointment) 
  • Pam Weigand, Lawrence (reappointment) 
  • Mark Dupree, Wyandotte (reappointment) 
  • Patricia Colloton, Leawood (reappointment) 

Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Purpose: To advocate for and facilitate equal access to quality, coordinated, and comprehensive services that enhance the quality of life for Kansans who are deaf and hard of hearing. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Jennifer Hart, Bel Aire 
  • Leonard Hall, Olathe (reappointment) 
  • Lorrie Shank, Lansing (reappointment) 

Agricultural Remediation Board
Purpose: To administer the Kansas Agricultural Remediation Fund and the remediation reimbursement program. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Casey Richards, Miltonvale (reappointment) 
  • Jami Loecker, Manhattan (reappointment) 

Propane Education and Research Council
Purpose: KanPERC is designed to enhance propane safety, education, and training for propane consumers and employees, to improve existing propane technology, to increase the efficiency of propane, and to develop other programs to educate the public about the safety, environmental aspects, and uses of propane. 

 Governor’s Appointment:  

  • Curtis Stahel, Overbrook 

Abstracters Board of Examiners
Purpose: To license abstracters to protect the public in land transactions. 

Governor’s Appointment:  

  • Shelly Delaney, Seneca 

State Library Board
Purpose: To advocate for statewide library services and resources, advise and counsel the state librarian on policies and management, review and approve annual plans of regional systems of cooperating libraries, promote collaboration with the state Board of Regents to ensure the inclusion of libraries on the KAN-ED network, and recommend statewide priorities for interlibrary cooperation. 

 Governor’s Appointment:  

  • Mary Rudman, Ellis (reappointment) 

State Board of Technical Professions
Purpose: To provide maximum protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Kansas by assuring that the practice of engineering, architecture, land surveying, landscape architecture, and geology in the state is carried out only by those persons who are proven to be qualified as prescribed by the board’s statutes, rules, and regulations. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Jack Poole, Spring Hill (reappointment) 
  • John Lilak, Prairie Village (reappointment) 

Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
Purpose: To protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare from unlawful or unprofessional practitioners who fall under the boards’ jurisdiction. 

 Governor’s Appointments:  

  • James Kilmartin, Shawnee (reappointment) 
  • Rochard Nobles, Overland Park (reappointment) 
  • Cynthia Schendel, Overland Park (reappointment) 

Creative Arts Industries Commission
Purpose: To measure, promote, support, and expand the creative industries to drive the Kansas economy, grow jobs, and enhance the quality of life for all Kansans. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Karem Garcia Gallo, Liberal (reappointment) 
  • Justin Rorabaugh, Wichita (reappointment) 
  • Lindsay Benacka, Wichita (reappointment) 

Washburn University Board of Regents
Purpose: To manage property, estate, and funds given, transferred, and pledged to the University. 

 Governor’s Appointment:  

  • Angel Romero, Topeka (reappointment) 

Real Estate Commission
Purpose: To license and regulate realtors. 

Governor’s Appointments:  

  • Jaci Kelly, Wichita (reappointment) 
  • Jamie Sauder, Emporia 
Read more