Parkinson appoints Thornton to head the KS Department of Commerce

October 30, 1:07 PMKansas City Political Buzz ExaminerMark Kern

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William Thornton, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, was tapped by Gov. Mark Parkinson for lead the state's primary economic development agency.  Thornton replaces David Kerr, who announced Thursday a decision to leave the commerce department to become Missouri's director of the Department of Economic Development.

Several house Republican have stated that they were concerned the Kerr would now be working for the state most likely to compete for Kansas on a deal for Cerner and the Wizards.  Parkinson defended Kerr saying that he had conducted himself in an ethical manner at all times during internal deliberations about the state's incentive package.

Thornton was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2007 by then-Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and has worked at MGP Ingredients, Hallmark Cards and at an Atchison law firm.