Kenya Cox of Wichita is named executive director of Kansas African American Affairs Commission

Kenya Cox of Wichita will be the new executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission starting Jan. 11.

Cox is president of the Wichita branch of the NAACP and a former staff member for Republican congressmen Mike Pompeo and Todd Tiahrt.

The commission’s executive director position had been vacant for seven months, and a former commission member accused the Brownback administration of holding up the selection for political reasons.

The commission last summer approved three candidates for executive director and sent the names to the governor, seeking approval of one.

Former commissioner James Barfield of Wichita said Brownback rejected all three “only because they were not Republicans.”

In a Kansas City Star story before Friday’s announcement, Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the commission had sent two new selections to the governor’s office and they were under consideration.

Barfield contended that the commission’s original selections — Glenda Overstreet, Mark McCormick and Andrea (A’Jay) Scipio — were better qualified.

“They proved my point,” Barfield said Friday. “(Cox) was hired because she was a Republican.”

Hawley said earlier that the administration strives to select the best candidate to serve the commission and Kansas citizens, someone who can work with all members of the Legislature.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, was critical of the process.

“I think the governor was manipulating the process to the point he could get who he wanted,” Hensley said. “From that standpoint, it was more political than it should be.”

In a written statement issued from the governor’s office Friday, commissioner Sherdeill Breathett said Cox is a great fit for the position.

“Her skill set is a perfect match for what we do and will prove beneficial in our efforts going forward,” Breathett said. “She will be an effective liaison for the African-American community, the Legislature and all partners across the state.”

Cox ran unsuccesfully in the 2012 general election against Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, a Wichita Democrat.

Cox worked for Pompeo as the senior constituent service representative and for Tiahrt as the 4th District congressional liaison.

Most recently Cox was the assistant regional director for community service for the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Kenya Cox of Wichita is named executive director of Kansas African American Affairs Commission."