By Sherman Smith, The Topeka-Capital Journal
American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas executive director Micah Kubic is leaving for Florida following four years of tangling with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach over voter rights issues.
Kubic was the face of an organization that successfully challenged Kobach over his proof of citizenship requirement for new voters, and also filed litigation over the exposure of voters’ private data, the decision to move Dodge County’s only polling place outside of city limits, and the refusal of a Kobach appointee to turn over records of discounted ballots in Johnson County.
His last day in Kansas will be Dec. 14.
“Kansas is on the front lines of every single civil liberties battle raging in America today,” Kubic said. “Over the last several years, the civil liberties movement in Kansas has picked up victory after victory after victory and stopped some of the most devastating attacks on our freedoms from spreading. Having quintupled in size and influence over the last four years, the ACLU of Kansas and its supporters are well-positioned to keep that streak of victories going.”
Mark McCormick, spokesman for ACLU Kansas, said the decision to leave was made before last week’s election, where voters rejected Kobach’s bid to become governor. Kubic will become executive director of ACLU Florida.
ACLU touts an undefeated record in legal clashes with Kobach. The organization prevailed following a high-profile trial in March in its lawsuit against the proof of citizenship law championed by Kobach. The Republican secretary of state defended himself at trial, where he was held in contempt of court and ordered to take additional law classes. A federal judge determined the known cases of voter fraud, which Kobach referred to as the tip of the iceberg, amounted to an ice cube.
ACLU Kansas said legal director Lauren Bonds will lead the organization on an interim basis until its board of directors hires Kubic’s replacement next year.