AUSTIN—Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman has told her staffMay 27 will be her final day, according to sources in Texas.

This month it had become increasingly clear the commissionerappointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011 would not receive aconfirmation nod from the state Senate as required by the TexasConstitution.

A nomination never made it on the agenda of the SenateNominations Committee this session. Senators PC360 spoketo in Austin said she did not have the votes to receive confirmation.

There is no word on Kitzman's replacement, either on a permanentor interim basis.

During an interview with PC360 on May 21 in Austin, thecommissioner says she hadn't “thought about leaving her post,” butwas instead “focused on doing my job for as long as I have thisjob.”

Kitzman referenced the people of the small, farming community ofWest, Texas—site of the massive fertilizer explosion last month—toexplain her philosophy.

“I spent a lot of time [in West],” she said. “Farmers maybe havea different view of the world. Life goes on. There is a still a jobto do, no matter what.”

At the time of the interview, it appeared unlikely Kitzman wouldreceive confirmation, but some time remained for an11^th-hour development.

Still, the commissioner acknowledged her uncertain job future bysaying: “This is what I do, not who I am. I've had a job beforethis one and I'll have another one after it.”

Kitzman, who was director of the South Carolina Department ofInsurance before coming to Texas, has also worked in the privateinsurance and reinsurance industries.

Kitzman is not the only one leaving the Texas Department ofInsurance. Additionally, Danny Seanz, deputy commissioner of thefinancial regulation division, and Audrey Seldon, deputycommissioner of the compliance division, are retiring later thisyear.

Senate Nominations Committee Chairman Glenn Hegar Jr., R-Katy,told PC360 in Austin that he had listened to “adamant”senators for and against Kitzman, who took over for Mike Geeslinafter he left the post midterm.

Without going into specifics, Hegar says those against Kitzmanare upset with the “way [Kitzman has] handled some issues.”Lawmakers have previously spoken about the commissioner's tendencyto approve homeowners' rate hikes without much scrutiny.

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who is on the Senate NominationsCommittee, flatly told PC360. “I'm not for her.”

Whomever Perry appoints as Kitzman's successor will not faceconfirmation until the next legislative session. Texas lawmakersmeet every other year.