In a statement issued to the press this morning, Edward Hammond, President Emeritus of Fort Hays State University issued this statement:
"I am sorry to be communicating in this manner; however, I am in China on University business. I was made aware of a political flyer from the Kansas Republican Party endorsing Governor Brownback which had my image and a quote from me. It is University policy that state employees may not officially endorse a candidate in any election. During my tenure as President of Fort Hays State University and in my current role as President-Emeritus, I have never endorsed a political candidate in an election and I am not endorsing any candidate now. No one asked for my permission to use my image, nor my words on this specific campaign mailer and I feel it is important that the public knows any such use of said images or words does not constitute an endorsement from me."
Kansas GOP has been rocked by a series of endorsements that turned out to be captured through seeming 'gotcha' videos in violation of Kansas State Ethics laws.
On Friday, the internal email of Kansas State University was published here, highlighting the fact Kansas State did not in any way approve of or authorize the use of an employee - Bill Snyder - to appear. This appearance falls outside of the bounds of the university contract to endorse or advocate for a political cause.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
As recently as last night, Bill Snyder was asking in a public forum for the ads to be removed from the airwaves:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
The Roberts campaign has refused, in seeming violation of Kansas Election Law (http://www.k-state.edu/...)
Now, the Kansas University System is rocked again as former President and President Emeritus of Fort Hays state contends his endorsement has been distributed on behalf of Sam Brownback both without his knowledge or consent, and that the endorsement was not written or provided by him, as he is in China on business.
While rules are unclear on Hammond's ability to comment or endorse as he has moved into an Emeritus position, Hammond's denial that he ever provided an endorsement to begin with, and did not authorize or approve of the Brownback mail piece and ad basis creates an ethical problem for Sam Brownback, who may have openly pushed a state employee into a violation of contract and the wrong side of state election law.
8:14 AM PT: This is now becoming shameful. Apparently without approval, GOP Candidate in Emporia (Kansas District 76) also ran an ad promoting the idea that a University President had endorsed.
Apparently, the GOP in Kansas has no problem throwing major universities into the mix, despite campaign law within the state.