Governor Laura Kelly Announces the
Departure of Senior Advisor for Federal
and State Affairs Shelbie Konkel
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced that Shelbie Konkel, Senior Advisor for Federal and State Affairs, will leave the Governor’s Office at the end of the year. Konkel, who is currently overseeing the office’s state and federal legislative affairs, policy, appointments, and constituent services teams, will become the new Senior Legislative Advisor for the Colorado Department of Education.
Konkel, who first joined the Kelly Administration as part of the transition team in November of 2018, has served in various roles and capacities. At the beginning of Governor Kelly’s first term, Konkel served as chief of staff to former Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers, where she helped launch the Office of Rural Prosperity. At the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, Konkel was part of the response team tasked to work with the Kansas National Guard, the State Emergency Operations Center and its corresponding Emergency Support Functions. In June of 2020, she was appointed Deputy Executive Director of the Kansas Office of Recovery and established the office that was tasked with administering federal Covid-19 relief funds. She returned to the Governor’s Office in December of 2020 as Senior Advisor, coordinating external affairs and strategic partnerships before assuming her current role in September of 2021.
“Shelbie has been a valuable resource to my administration since Day One,” said Governor Kelly. “From helping to secure key legislative victories such as the state food sales tax elimination to facilitating the creation of the Office of Broadband Development, she has played an integral role in delivering real results for Kansans. I wish her all the best as she takes the next step in her career.”
“It has truly been an honor to serve in Governor Kelly’s administration,” Konkel said. “I’d like to thank her for the opportunity to work alongside so many other Kansans – from fellow team members, to legislators, local leaders, stakeholders, and advocates – who came together to serve the people of Kansas under her leadership.”
Konkel will remain in the role until December 30th, and a new Government Affairs Director will be named following a formal selection process in the coming weeks.
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