Yes, there is a direct connection: Kevin Rake, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of HME, Inc., serves as an Elected Director on the GO Topeka Board of Directors.

This is the board for GO Topeka (Growth Organization of Topeka/Shawnee County, Inc.), the economic development arm of the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP). Kevin Rake is listed under Elected Directors, affiliated with HME, Inc. (sometimes stylized as Haas Metal Engineering Inc. or similar in local records).

Key Details from Current Sources

• GO Topeka Board Listing (from the official Greater Topeka Partnership website at topekapartnership.com/about/board-of-directors/):
  • Elected Directors include Kevin Rake (HME, Inc.), alongside others like Neal Spencer (Board Chair, Ernest-Spencer Metals), Dr. Robert Kenagy (Stormont Vail Health), Travis Morris (Treasurer, Summit Materials), and more.
  • No other individuals from HME Inc. appear on the board.
• Governance Confirmation: The 2025 Governance & Leadership Guide (Board Book PDF on the site) also lists Kevin Rake (HME, Inc.) as a director, with his term expiring December 31, 2026 (staggered 3-year terms typical for elected positions).
• No Representation on Other Boards:
  • Topeka Chamber of Commerce Board: Separate listings (e.g., Chair Beth Easter, other elected directors like Kevin Dishman) show no one from HME Inc. or Kevin Rake.
  • Greater Topeka Partnership Overall / Chairs Council: This is a higher-level body with chairs from the affiliated orgs (e.g., GO Topeka Chair Neal Spencer, Chamber Chair Beth Easter). Kevin Rake is not listed there; his role is specifically on the GO Topeka board.
  • No mentions of other HME executives (e.g., Jon Haas as President) on any of these boards.

Context on HME Inc. and the Incentive

HME Inc. (a Topeka-based structural steel and metal fabrication/construction company) received a performance-based incentive in 2024 (as noted in JEDO meeting docs from May 2024, offering ~$125,000 cash upon verified expansion milestones). More recently, in December 2024, JEDO approved a larger package supporting HME's expansion to create up to 300 new jobs with a projected $1.2 billion economic impact over time.

Kevin Rake's board role means HME has representation in GO Topeka's decision-making on economic development incentives, including those that could benefit HME or similar companies. As with other private-sector directors (e.g., from manufacturing or finance), Kansas ethics rules (K.S.A. 75-4304 et seq.) require disclosure of substantial interests and recusal from votes directly affecting one's company to avoid conflicts.

This setup is consistent with GO Topeka's model of including local business leaders to inform strategy. For the absolute latest (boards can shift with annual elections), check topekapartnership.com/about/board-of-directors/ directly or contact the Partnership.

Kansas ethics rules for public officials primarily fall into two main categories: state-level rules (governed by the State Governmental Ethics Law, K.S.A. 46-215 et seq.) and local-level rules (governed by the general conflict of interest law for local governmental subdivisions, K.S.A. 75-4301 et seq.). These laws aim to prevent self-dealing, promote transparency, and maintain public trust by requiring disclosures, prohibiting certain actions, and mandating recusal in cases of conflicts.

The enforcing body is the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission (KPDC, formerly the Governmental Ethics Commission), which administers, interprets, and enforces these laws. It handles state-level matters directly (including complaints, fines, and enforcement) but provides only advisory guidance for local-level conflicts—actual enforcement for local violations comes via county/district attorneys or the Attorney General through criminal processes.

1. State-Level Ethics (K.S.A. 46-215 et seq.)

These apply to state officers, employees, legislators, lobbyists, candidates, and members of state boards/commissions. Key elements include:

• Statements of Substantial Interests (SSI): Required annually for many officials (e.g., elected state officers, high-level appointees). These disclose financial interests exceeding certain thresholds (e.g., ownership >5% or $5,000 in a business, or income >$2,000 from a source). The goal is transparency about potential conflicts.
• Prohibited Conduct:
  • No using official position for personal economic gain (e.g., no contracts where the official has a substantial interest).
  • Restrictions on gifts, meals, loans, or economic opportunities from lobbyists or those seeking to influence (with exceptions for certain charitable contributions or nominal items).
  • Post-employment restrictions (e.g., no involvement in certain non-competitive contracts for two years after leaving state service).
  • No solicitation or acceptance of gifts/meals in many cases, with narrow exceptions (e.g., for 501(c)(3) nonprofits under specific conditions).
• Penalties: Civil fines, potential removal from office, or other sanctions enforced by the KPDC.

These rules focus more on state government and do not directly prohibit serving on nonprofit boards unless it creates a direct conflict (e.g., if the nonprofit contracts with the state and the official participates in that decision).

2. Local-Level Conflicts of Interest (K.S.A. 75-4301 et seq.)

These apply to local government officers and employees (e.g., city council members, county commissioners, mayors, school board members, and similar roles in cities, counties, townships, or special districts). This is the more relevant category for scenarios like elected officials on nonprofit boards (e.g., Go Topeka) that handle public funds or incentives.

• Key Definitions (K.S.A. 75-4301a):
  • Substantial interest: Includes ownership (individual or spouse) exceeding $5,000 or 5% in a business within the last 12 months, or compensation >$2,000 in the prior year from that business. Also covers interests in nonprofits if they meet thresholds.
  • Applies to businesses, including nonprofits if they qualify as such.
• Prohibitions (K.S.A. 75-4304):
  • No local officer/employee shall make or participate in making a contract with any person/business by which the officer is employed or in which they have a substantial interest.
  • "Contract" broadly includes agreements for services, sales, grants, incentives, or appropriations (e.g., economic development incentives from public funds).
  • This prohibits self-dealing: An official cannot vote on or influence a decision benefiting a business/nonprofit where they have a substantial interest (e.g., serving on the board of a nonprofit receiving public incentives/grants).
• Disclosure Requirements (K.S.A. 75-4302a):
  • Officials must file statements disclosing substantial interests.
  • If an official (or spouse) is an officer of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, additional disclosure may be required.
• Recusal and Avoidance:
  • Officials must recuse themselves from votes or participation in matters where a conflict exists.
  • No outright ban on serving on nonprofit boards, but strict limits on participating in decisions involving contracts/funds to that nonprofit.
  • Advisory opinions from the KPDC (via written request) provide guidance; acting in compliance creates a presumption of no violation.
• Enforcement and Penalties:
  • Violations are misdemeanors (handled criminally by prosecutors, not the KPDC directly).
  • Potential fines, ouster from office, or invalidation of actions/contracts.
  • Recent legislative efforts (e.g., Senate Bill 66 in 2025) have proposed strengthening bans on voting in development projects with substantial interests, highlighting ongoing concerns about local transparency.

Application to Nonprofits with Public Funds

Serving on a nonprofit board (like Go Topeka, which administers public incentives via JEDO) is allowed, but:

• If the nonprofit receives public funds/contracts (e.g., grants, incentives), and the official has a substantial interest (e.g., as a board member with influence or compensation), they must recuse from related decisions.
• No automatic prohibition exists solely for board service or public funding receipt, but the rules prevent participation in self-benefiting actions.
• AG opinions and court precedents (e.g., emphasizing no dual roles in contracts) reinforce avoiding even the appearance of conflicts.

For the most current details or specific scenarios, consult the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission (kpdc.kansas.gov) for advisory opinions, file requests there, or review full statutes at ksrevisor.gov. If a potential violation arises, contact a local prosecutor or attorney for guidance. These rules evolve through legislation and opinions, so checking official sources is key.