The headline in Friday’s Journal-World read, “KTEC board clears CEO.” The story said, “On Thursday, the KTEC (Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp.) executive committee issued a news release, saying recent accusations made against KTEC’s CEO, Tracy Taylor, were ‘baseless.'”

Is this any surprise?

KTEC’s executive committee members almost had to defend Taylor and his actions — although they hardly are unbiased judges. Their defense of Taylor was a means of defending their own actions and attention to details as well as their oversight and approval of Taylor’s leadership.

A phone call to KTEC to confirm the members of the executive committee was not returned last week, but the members listed in the agency’s 2008 annual report were: Linda Reinhardt, board chairwoman, Erie; Doug Brush, vice chairman, Downs; David Brant, Wichita; Robert Murdock, Hutchinson; and Ted Haggart, Lawrence. According to the KTEC Web site, Kyle Elliott of Kansas City, Kan., has since replaced Brush as the board’s vice chairman and presumably replaced him on the executive committee.

Taylor’s job and his salary — as well as the future of KTEC as a separate agency — hang in the balance because both former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Gov. Mark Parkinson have indicated concerns about the management and leadership of Taylor and the accomplishments of KTEC.

The state budget that includes $7 million in funding for KTEC has not yet been signed. It’s no wonder KTEC board members are rising to defend the actions of their CEO, as well as themselves.