Topeka ? Mike Hayden’s confirmation as secretary of wildlife and parks faces opposition because of his involvement with a group supporting moderate Republican candidates, senators said Thursday.

GOP leaders called off a planned a Senate vote Wednesday on the former governor’s appointment because Democrats and some conservative Republicans were upset. The vote has not been rescheduled.

“It seems like the governor’s appointment may be complicated with other issues,” said Senate Majority Leader Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan.

The anger stems from Hayden’s signature on a Feb. 4 letter for Kansas Citizens for Excellence in Education seeking donations to help “traditional” Republicans a term moderates sometimes use to describe themselves.

“I think there is a concern in the Senate that he exhibited very unprofessional behavior,” said Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, who plans to vote against Hayden.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, added: “Some people on our side of the aisle feel it’s inappropriate for a Cabinet secretary to be that involved in party politics.”

Some senators said Hayden still should be confirmed. However, any opposition is significant because most Cabinet appointments are approved with little or no debate.

Gov. Bill Graves, who appointed Hayden, had strong words for those planning to vote against the confirmation.

“If they’re that small-minded and petty, and they want to publicly display that small-mindedness and pettiness, then they ought to just go right ahead and vote that way,” Graves said Thursday.

Hayden took office in an acting capacity in January to replace Steve Williams, who was appointed last October by President Bush to head the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

An Atwood native and former speaker of the Kansas House, Hayden was governor from 1987 to 1991. He lost a re-election bid to Democrat Joan Finney in 1990.

Hayden then was named assistant Interior secretary for fishing, wildlife and parks during the first Bush administration.

“Absent this controversy, Mike Hayden is qualified to be secretary of wildlife and parks,” Hensley said.

Hayden compared his situation to the six months Williams waited for confirmation to his federal job by the U.S. Senate.

“It’s just a smaller scale,” Hayden said. “Ultimately, cooler heads will prevail.”

Wagle and Hensley both said they had not tallied the anti-Hayden votes in their delegations.

Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, said: “I’m certain there will be ‘no’ votes, but I doubt that it’s in trouble.”