David Toland should be the commerce secretary of Kansas.
With abundant experience in economic development and an impressive resume as CEO of Thrive Allen County, Toland would be an asset to the department and the entire state. The fact that his nomination hearings devolved into a partisan spat speaks poorly of legislators and suggest backroom whisper campaigns focused on attacking a Democratic rising star.
We hold hearings on prospective department leaders for a reason. Legislators have every right, and we have every expectation that they will, probe legitimate questions about a nominees philosophies and background. While it might have been uncomfortable for Toland to answer questions about a politically charged social media post, for example, it was worthy of a question. The commerce secretary will represent all Kansans, after all.
