Solicitation Flap Ousts Kansas DOI Candidate

By Trevor Thomas

NU Online News Service, May 16, 11:41 a.m.EST?A state insurance department official running in theRepublican primary for the Kansas insurance commissioner's post hasdropped from the race and quit his job after admitting he solicitedinsurers for political contributions.

John J. McCarvel ran afoul of a state law banning campaigncontributions from insurance companies he regulated in his positionat the department, according to Pedro Irigonegaray, an attorney forMr. McCarvel in Topeka, Kan.

Mr. McCarvel resigned from the job after current InsuranceCommissioner Kathleen Sebelius pointed out that his campaignsolicitations from insurers violated state law.

A DOI spokesperson said Mr. McCarvel made some solicitationswhen the state legislature was in session, in violation of statelaw. In any event, ethical guidelines that Ms. Sebelius set asInsurance Commissioner prohibit DOI staff from making suchsolicitations at any time, the spokesperson noted.

In his job as admissions coordinator for the DOI, Mr. McCarvelhad authority to approve insurance company applications to dobusiness in the state, the spokesperson added.

Mr. Irigonegaray said Mr. McCarvel received donations of up to$750 from unnamed insurers but returned them after learning theyappeared to violate state law.

Ms. Sebelius has requested an investigation by the GovernmentalEthics Commission.

Ms. Sebelius, a Democrat, rather than seeking reelection isrunning for governor. So far no Democratic primary candidate's havefiled for the commissioner's post. Ms. Sebelius has endorsed no oneto replace her as Insurance Commissioner, the DOI spokespersonnoted.

The remaining GOP candidates in the commissioner's race areState Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, who chairs the SenateFinancial Institutions and Insurance Committee, and Bryan Riley ofWichita, who ran unsuccessfully in 1998.

According to the Associated Press, Mr. McCarvel quit last weekwhen he was confronted by Ms. Sibelius. She was alerted to hissolicitations by Rep. Bob Tomlinson, R-Roeland Park, who heads theHouse insurance committee.

Trevor. Thomas is associate editor for the NULife-Health Edition.