COFFEYVILLE ? House Minority Leader Jim Garner plans to run for insurance commissioner.

Garner, Coffeyville, scheduled a news conference for 12:30 p.m. today at the Statehouse to announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. The House’s top Democrat, Garner told The Coffeyville Journal that he is ready to make a change in his career.

“Everything just seemed right to run,” Garner said Wednesday. “My biggest motivation in running is keeping in place the major changes that I have seen in that office over the last eight years.”

Garner, who has served 12 years in the House, hopes to replace fellow Democrat Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius, who is running for governor, has held the office since 1995.

The office of the insurance commissioner has become more friendly toward consumers, Garner said, adding that he would try to improve upon changes implemented by Sebelius.

“With the current insurance commissioner running for governor, it makes the future of that office uncertain. I want to carry on the tradition of putting the people first,” he said.

Garner is the only Democrat in the race.

Three candidates have filed for the Republican nomination: David J. Powell, El Dorado; State Sen. Sandy Praeger, Lawrence; and Brian Riley, Wichita.

Praeger is the chairwoman of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and has served in the Legislature since 1991.

Riley is an independent agent who owns Kansas Long-Term Care Specialists, which sells long-term care insurance. He was the 1998 Republican nominee, receiving 41 percent of the vote against Sebelius.

Powell is an insurance agent and financial planner who has been in business for 25 years. He has said he wants to bring more insurance carriers to Kansas and allow health insurers to provide separate plans to cover catastrophic medical costs and routine claims.

He also said he wanted to address “unnecessary mandates” from the state, which he believes increase the cost of insurance for consumers.

“I want companies to compete for the business for our state’s citizenry,” Powell said. “When competition and free enterprise exists, everyone benefits.”

Riley also has made increasing competition a key theme in his campaign, suggesting that mandates help drive carriers out of Kansas. He contends companies face a hostile regulatory environment in Kansas.

“We simply cannot afford business as usual in Topeka,” he said.