Topeka — Clay Blair, who has served as the only chairman of the Kansas Bioscience Authority since its formation in 2004, announced Tuesday he was resigning amid questions raised by a newspaper about his expenses.
In a letter to Bioscience Authority board members, Blair, a Johnson County businessman, gave no reason for his departure.
But he said that in his efforts to steer the state away from complacency, "there surely have been times when I could have done this in wiser or more respectful ways."
Blair said Tuesday night that he timed his resignation to coincide with the Olathe City Council deeding about 90 acres of land for a bioscience research park.
"It's a great time (to resign)," he said after the Olathe meeting. "You end on a high note."
He said questions about his expenses were not the reason for his resignation.
"Candidly, I don't know who's driving that," he said. "There might be people who aren't excited about the Olathe campus."
Blair was praised by state leaders as setting the foundation for efforts to increase bioscience research and development in Kansas.
Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, lauded Blair's work on the Bioscience Authority.
"With Clay Blair at the helm, the KBA has gained national recognition and respect," Morris said. "I sincerely thank Clay for his contributions to the KBA and to the state. We wish him well in every future endeavor."
The Bioscience Authority has lured six new companies to Kansas, including Identigen in Lawrence and worked to create the campus in Olathe.
But nearly three weeks ago, The Kansas City Star reported that Blair's Lenexa-based business Clay Blair Services Corp. received $46,000 from the Bioscience Authority over 11 months for "office expenses and clerical support" and Blair received $23,239 for reimbursement for expenses.
Expenses had approval
Blair and his supporters, many of them on the Bioscience Authority board, defended the expenses, saying the payments were approved unanimously by executive committee members. In addition, they said, Blair did an extraordinary amount of work for the Bioscience Authority and was instrumental in recruiting businesses to the state.
State Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, a sponsor of the legislation that led to the Bioscience Authority, said Blair put Kansas on the bioscience map.
"When we started this thing, Clay Blair got handed a 50-page piece of legislation and was told, 'Go forth and succeed.' There was nothing - not a building, not a secretary."
State Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Olathe, agreed, saying Blair was the key figure in bioscience development.
"He was it for two years, plus he was trying to run his own business," Jordan said.
In October 2006, Tom Thornton was hired as president and chief executive of the authority.
Jordan said he didn't see anything inappropriate in the reimbursements to Blair.
"Everything he has done, the authority, or the executive committee, signed off on," he said.
He said Blair brought needed innovation and creative thinking to Kansas' bioscience effort.
"His talents will be missed," Jordan said.
And Wilk said that while some may have been uncomfortable with Blair's style, his energy and deal-making ability were exactly what the Bioscience Authority needed.
"We set this up as an authority and not another state agency. We want it to be entrepreneurial, responsive and to cut through the red tape," Wilk said.
Of Blair, he said, "We couldn't have had a finer leader. It's a sad day to see him leave the KBA."
Resignation 'a loss'
One Bioscience Authority director called Blair's resignation "a loss for the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the state of Kansas."
"He has done a superb job in leading the organization since its formation in 2004," said Dolph Simons Jr., who also is chairman of The World Company, which owns the Lawrence Journal-World. "He has excelled in attracting bioscience-related businesses to Kansas with close to 3,000 employees.
"His resignation means a less effective Kansas Bioscience Authority, which had so much potential to help make Kansas a better and stronger state, retaining and attracting bright men and women in the bioscience field."
Prior to serving on the Bioscience Authority, Blair had served as chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. He also led a corporation that oversaw research building projects at the Kansas University Medical Center and Kansas State and Wichita State universities.
Morris will name a replacement member to the authority this week and the panel will select a new chair.
Comments
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oldgoof (anonymous) says…
If Blair was so good in this environment, he must be a little thin-skinned, don't you think. Clay Blair had injected himself into these activities, so a little accountability is appropriate.
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Watch for a Saturday column portraying doom-and-gloom from the publisher on this one.
susanparker (anonymous) says…
oldgoof I will watch the paper on Saturday, I think you are right on the mark. I'm also guessing that Simons is the board member making those ridiculous comments. Did anyone read the KC Star this morning? These are facts that are being stated, gleaned from actual bank records of the KBA. If Blair were truly "running the KBA single-handedly" why did he need almost a quarter of a million dollars in "help"? Nick Jordan and Kenny Wilk are well known for being "buddies" of Blair's. How many meals and drinks do you think that Clay/KBA bought ole' Kenny and Nick? How do either of them know that, "Everything he has done, the authority, or the executive committee, signed off on"? Have either of them attended the meetings or read the minutes? I'm guessing not! Wouldn't it be nice if newspapers printed facts instead of opinions?!
prestonunderwood (anonymous) says…
Blair has donated millions to KU. He doesn't need a few thousand dollars in state-paid meals and mileage to survive.
Probably the spectators are right, he should have spent his time building an organization, hiring bureaucrats, etc.; instead of getting things job like bringing thousands of jobs to Kansas.
gr (anonymous) says…
"Did anyone read the KC Star this morning? "
I noticed the KC Star did not make scenebooster's list of credible sources.
"Wouldn't it be nice if newspapers printed facts instead of opinions?!"
Well, there's a point! I would assume, "Everything he has done", means all expenses were signed off - there were no unaccounted disbursement of funds.
"Blair has donated millions to KU. He doesn't need a few thousand dollars in state-paid meals and mileage to survive."
prestonunderwood, just a hunch, but something tells me that you are one who believes nothing is wrong with taxing the rich at a higher rate than others. Also, I would guess you are one who thinks that those who save their money instead of spending it, should then pay taxes on social security (or not even get any). Just because someone is successful (or not wasteful) doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated fairly.
I don't know whether Blair is honest or not. Maybe you have "facts" which I don't. I just see opinions.
ashank (anonymous) says…
Isn't it interesting how the LJ World story and the KC Star story can differ so much? If the KC Star story is anywhere closer to the real story than the LJ World, shame on the LJ World. In the KC Star, Steve Morris says he was re-thinking his decision to appoint Blair. In the LJ story he is praising him. Someone appears to be very selective about what they write. This seems to be so often the case with the LJ World. Let's tell only the part of the story that fits our editorial opinion. Otherwise how could Dolph write those lopsided editorials of his? Clay Blair may have done nothing wrong and it would be best for us all if he didn't, but how can everything be rosy in Lawrence on this issue and a real storm has broken out on the same item in KC. Don't we deserve to know both sides of the story and all that is being said? Of all the articles I have read online in the LJ World, this is probably one of this most disappointing as it speaks directly to the "trust" factor, or now, lack of it.
prestonunderwood (anonymous) says…
GR, my point is Blair has so much money, he doesn't need the mileage/meals money. He just submitted them for reimbursement because they were legitimate expenses.
gr (anonymous) says…
"GR, my point is Blair has so much money, he doesn't need the mileage/meals money. He just submitted them for reimbursement because they were legitimate expenses."
And that point was exactly what I am objecting to.
Reimbursement isn't set up only for those who "need" it - however you want to qualify that word.
not_dolph (anonymous) says…
Donna - What were you trying to say in your post. It made no sense.