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Kathleen Sebelius, a contender for the NAIC secretary/treasurer position, is known as a practical and proper regulator who never forgets she's a public official.
Identified as consumer-friendly by those who follow NAIC activities and endorsed by a funded NAIC consumer representative, Sebelius can disagree with the insurance industry amicably and is prepared to compromise.
At the same time she has maintained her credibility. A state insurance industry official dryly point out that "she has made very sure that consumers are protected."
As one industry lobbyist noted, Sebelius is "not locked in concrete on an issue." She has a "dose of the politician" in her and understands "how to work an issue," he said.
Once in a while, the Kansas commissioner will draw a line in the sand, such as the twice-unsuccessful effort to get a bill through the state legislature curbing industry power to cancel windstorm/tornado insurance.
"The industry hates that bill.... I am practical enough to realize it might not pass," said the freshly re-elected Kansas insurance commissioner.
"To watch people who are dumped even though they have been policyholders for 25 years in a state with erratic weather is wrong, she said. "I will continue to raise the flagpole even if it is knocked down again." While not viewed as...