Kansas Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall was beginning to look forward to getting out of public service after seven years.

But then Sept. 11 happened, and she saw people reaching out for elected officials they could trust. She decided perhaps it wasn’t time to leave government yet, she told a group of about 40 Kansas University College Republicans Tuesday night.

Now Stovall and her running mate, Rep. Kent Glasscock, are seeking the Republican ticket in the gubernatorial race.

Stovall is competing against State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger and Wichita Mayor Bob Knight for the Republican ballot slot. State Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius is the lone Democrat in the race.

If elected, the economic fallout of Sept. 11 would fall in Stovall’s lap. She said Tuesday night that her campaign would focus on preserving quality K-12 education, making sure state institutions of higher learning are good enough to keep young Kansans in the state and stimulating the economy to create more jobs, thereby expanding the tax base to adequately fund public education and programs.

Stovall said she would push U.S. Rep. Pat Robert’s efforts to get new research facilities at KU, Kansas State University and Wichita State University.

Despite the state’s “horrible budget situation,” Stovall said she would not support any tax hikes, with the exception of the cigarette tax.

“Everyone’s ox gets gored,” she said.

She said she would support the opportunity for slot machines at race tracks, as long as the communities where the tracks were located voted in favor of the slots.

 Staff writer Mindie Paget can be reached at 832-7187.