Hensley Filing Ethics Complaint to Brownback’s Campaign Finances January 25, 2016

(AP) – A top lawmaker says he plans to file a complaint with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission seeking an investigation into Gov. Sam Brownback’s use of campaign donations to pay more than $167,000 in legal fees last year. The payments came as a federal grand jury was investigating loans his running mate, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, made to their 2014 re-election effort.
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley said Monday he also plans to ask the ethics panel for an advisory opinion on the legality of a candidate using campaign funds as collateral.
Eileen Hawley, spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said in an email Monday speaking on behalf of Colyer that the campaign complied with all laws and regulations and that the investigation into the loans did not result in charges.

AP: Grand Jury Looking at Brownback 2014 Campaign Loans January 8, 2015

(AP) – A subpoena obtained by The Associated Press shows a federal grand jury is looking into loans made to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s re-election campaign.

The subpoena orders the executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission to appear Wednesday in Topeka and to provide documents pertaining to loans Brownback’s campaign received in 2013 and 2014.

The Dec. 2 subpoena doesn’t say which specific loans are being investigated, but the only loans listed on campaign disclosure reports for those years are one from Brownback himself and others from Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer.

Colyer loaned Brownback’s campaign $500,000 in August, the third such loan Brownback’s running mate made to the governor’s re-election bid.

The governor’s office said Thursday that it was unaware of the investigation. The U.S. attorney’s office declined comment.

Kansas Panel Wants More Information Before It Decides Whether or Not Barack Obama Can Appear on Kansas Ballot September 13, 2012

Kansas is still deciding whether or not Barack Obama can be on the Kansas ballot.
A Manhattan man is challenging Obama’s right to appear on the ballot. He says there is a question about whether or not Obama meeting the nation’s citizenship requirement. It’s a birther challenge.
The issue came up before a panel known as the ‘Board of Objections’, which settle ballot disputes in Kansas.
The Board is made of Kansas Lt .Governor, Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Attorney General Derek Schmidt. All three officials are Republicans.
The panel voted unanimously to postpone a decision at its Thursday meeting, where the item was on the agenda.
They’re waiting for more documents. The Board hopes to make a ruling on Monday.

Kansas Republicans Pick Up Another House Seat, Lake Quivera Democrat Left Off Ballot June 20, 2012

The Kansas Republican Party picked up another seat in the 2013 House without much of a campaign.
The Topeka Capital journal reports that is because “Larry Meeker, a Lake Quivira Democrat, who failed to convince the Kansas Board of Objections to reverse a decision by the secretary of state’s office to deny him a spot on the ballot in the 17th District race for House.”
The Board is made up of Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Lt. Governor Jeff Coyler.
The C-J says, “Colyer and Schmidt voted 2-0 against Meeker’s appeal, with Kobach abstaining.
“This is the case of the missing form,” Kobach said.
Kansas Democratic Party staff member Tyler Longbine testified he delivered to Ryan Kriegshauser, a member of Kobach’s staff, the form signed by Meeker shortly before the filing deadline. Kriegshauser said Meeker’s candidate papers weren’t submitted by Longbine in the last-day scramble.
“I do appreciate the confusion that took place that day.” Meeker said. “I don’t see anything in this other than a simple error.”
Meeker, retired vice president for the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, would have been the only Democratic candidate in the district.
The board’s ruling handed the seat to the Republican Party. In the GOP primary, Rep. Brett Hildabrand, of Shawnee, will face challenger Jason Leib, of Lenexa, to decide the race.”

Coyler at JoCo GOP Elephant Club Tuesday January 16, 2012

Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Coyler will be the featured speaker at the Johnson County Republican Party’s Elephant Club meeting, Tuesday January 17.
Coyler will talk about Governor Sam Brownback’s legislative plan for the current session.
It’s expected he’ll discuss the Governor’s plan for tax reform; school finance formula reform and Medicaid reform, and other topics.
The meeting will be at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, 10100 College Bld.
For more information or tickets, the newsletter says to contact Doris Riley at the JCRP office for registration or membership information. She can be reached at 913.341.8683 or jcrpks@att.net . Payment may be made at the door with cash or check.