Sebelius groups to work on tax, economic issues

Topeka Democrat Kathleen Sebelius says her gubernatorial campaign will have two groups review tax and economic development issues.

Sebelius, the insurance commissioner, told reporters Thursday she would announce the members of each group within a few weeks.

The groups’ efforts would be in addition to the top-to-bottom review of state government Sebelius has promised.

Sebelius said she wanted to find ways to make Kansas more friendly for businesses and to make the tax system fairer.

She said the tax review would examine whether the state was doing enough to collect delinquent taxes and whether tax laws were administered uniformly.

However, it also will examine the tax rates.

“I think everything is on the table,” she said.

AG candidates pledge to keep KU law dean

Topeka Both David Adkins and Phill Kline said Thursday that they would keep the Kansas University law school dean on their staffs if elected attorney general.

Stephen McAllister has served as the state solicitor since 1999. The solicitor helps the attorney general prepare arguments for cases before the Kansas Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court and sometimes represents the state in such cases.

Adkins, a state senator from Leawood, and Kline, a former state representative from Shawnee, are seeking the Republican nomination in the Aug. 6 primary. Also on the GOP ballot is Charles McAtee, a Topeka attorney.

Adkins announced that McAllister had agreed to remain as solicitor if Adkins were elected.

Shallenburger plans four-day bus tour

Topeka Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Shallenburger plans to begin a four-day bus tour Saturday.

Shallenburger has scheduled stops in 24 cities, beginning with Dodge City at 10 a.m. Saturday and ending with a rally in Topeka on Tuesday.

Saturday, Shallenburger expects to stop in Dodge City, Liberal, Hugoton, Ulysses, Lakin and Deerfield.

He is scheduled to make appearances Sunday in Garden City, Great Bend, Sterling, Hutchinson and Wichita.

On Monday, he plans stops in Wichita, Augusta, El Dorado, Eureka, Yates Center, Iola, Fort Scott and Pittsburg.

Tuesday’s stops are set for Louisburg, Lenexa, Lawrence, Oskaloosa, Holton and Topeka.

In the Aug. 6 GOP primary, Shallenburger, the state treasurer, faces Senate President Dave Kerr of Hutchinson; Wichita Mayor Bob Knight; and Dan Bloom, a businessman and former Eudora school superintendent.

Democrats plan fest

Topeka The state Democratic Party has scheduled its annual Demofest celebration for Aug. 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita.

The party plans to draft a platform during the meeting. The convention also will feature congressional district and other caucus meetings.

Nominee to perform at bluegrass festival

Junction City Chris Biggs will display his banjo picking skills, rather than his prosecutorial skills, Saturday at Milford Lake.

Biggs, the Geary County attorney and Democratic nominee for attorney general, will perform in the Milford Bluegrass Festival at 2:40 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.

Biggs is a former state banjo and guitar champion who has finished in third place three times at the National Guitar Flatpicking Championship in Winfield.

Candidates advertise group endorsements

Topeka Statewide candidates continue to tout endorsements.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius, the insurance commissioner, had a Thursday news conference to publicize her endorsement by the State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Sebelius is the only Democratic candidate, but lodge President K.C. Blodgett said the group could have withheld an endorsement. On the Republican side, the lodge supports State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger.

Shallenburger also was endorsed by the Family Farmer PAC, a political action committee associated with the Kansas Farmers Union.

The same PAC endorsed former state Rep. Phill Kline in the Republican attorney general’s race.

Kline also is touting his endorsement by the National Rifle Assn.