Senate confirms Kelly’s picks for administration secretary, Kansas Historical Society director
Mar 24, 2023 | 7:48 am ET
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The Kansas Senate unanimously confirmed appointment of Adam Proffitt, the governor's budget director, to the job of secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly lauded the Kansas Senate’s unanimous vote Thursday to confirm a new secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration.
Adam Proffitt, who has served since 2020 as the governor’s budget director, was confirmed 38-0. He had been nominated by Kelly in January to the Cabinet position at the Department of Administration. Kelly said Proffitt would continue in dual roles as secretary of administration and chief budget advisor.
“Adam’s dedication, attention to detail and guidance have been pivotal to my administration’s efforts to bring fiscal responsibility back to the state,” Kelly said. “I’m glad legislators from both sides of the aisle recognize that his experience and success as my budget director make him perfectly suited to lead the Department of Administration.”
Profitt said he was grateful to the Senate and would work in partnership with the Legislature to “deliver excellent customer service to all Kansans.”
He was Medicaid director in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment prior to transitioning to state budget director. He worked 15 years in the private sector and held jobs in financial planning and forecasting.
The Senate also confirmed the governor’s nominee for executive director of the Kansas State Historical Society, which strives to collect, preserve and share state history.
Patrick Zollner, who previously filled the role as acting director, was confirmed 36-2 with dissent from Republican Sens. Caryn Tyson of Parker and Molly Baumgardner of Louisburg. The previous executive director, Jennie Chinn, died in April 2022.
“Since 1875, the Kansas Historical Society has preserved our state’s history. I’m proud to be selected to lead this organization,” Zollner said.
He joined the state Historical Society in 2004 and worked as an architectural historian and coordinator for the National Register. He’s from Arkansas and was vice president of the Arkansas Historical Association from 1995 to 2003.
Topeka, KS
