George Hansen, who leads the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, won’t be Kansas’ next secretary of commerce after all.

Gov. Sam Brownback appointed Hansen to the post on Aug. 21, but Hansen decided to decline the position on Sept. 1. A member of Hansen’s extended family has had “extensive” business dealings with the Department of Commerce, and Hansen needed to avoid the conflict of interest.

“I was greatly honored that Governor Brownback asked me to serve the citizens of this great state as Commerce Secretary,” Hansen said in a news release. “The governor needs a full-time secretary of commerce, not one who would have to recuse himself continuously to avoid perceptions of a conflict of interest.

“I have always held myself to a high ethical standard in both my personal and professional life and would not want even the slightest appearance of any conflict to affect my ability to do my job. Because of my respect for the governor and the people of Kansas, I asked Governor Brownback to withdraw my name from consideration as commerce secretary.”

The governor’s office is continuing to search for a replacement for Pat George, who stepped down as commerce secretary in late July.