Topeka ? Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday the state had enough money to finance vital programs but stopped short of promising no new taxes.

Sebelius, the insurance commissioner, did pledge to start an agency-by-agency review of spending, though she wasn’t specific about the details.

John Moore, executive vice president of Cessna Aircraft Co., addresses a gathering of supporters in Wichita. Moore on Thursday was introduced by Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, background, as her running mate in the race for governor.

She made her comments during a Statehouse rally, part of a statewide tour to introduce her running mate, Wichita aviation executive John Moore.

Moore, executive vice president at Cessna Aircraft Co., was registered as a Republican until May 11, when he switched to being a Democrat. He said he would resign his position on July 1.

Sebelius addressed budget issues in response to reporters’ questions after her Statehouse rally, which attracted about 150 supporters. The Republican-controlled Legislature increased taxes $252 million this year to prevent cuts in education and social services.

“I believe that the resources are there to fund our strategic priorities,” Sebelius said. “I’m not adverse to making tough decisions.”

She said a review of agency spending was necessary because the state needed to have a better idea of how it spent tax dollars.

Sebelius then repeated a story she tells on the campaign trail.

When she became insurance commissioner in 1995, she learned her office had four employees guarding a vault in the basement of a state office building, even though the vault contained nothing of value. She said shutting down the vault saved $1 million a year.

“I know that there are ways throughout agencies to shift dollars into strategic areas,” she said. “You can’t talk about whether the revenue is adequate until you know what is funded.”

Asked whether she was making a no-tax pledge, Sebelius said: “I am not committing to anything other than the process I’ve just outlined. I believe the resources are adequate to move us into the future.”

So far, Sebelius is the only Democrat running for governor in the Aug. 6 primary; four Republicans are vying for the chance to advance to the Nov. 5 election ballot. They are State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger; Senate President Dave Kerr; Wichita Mayor Bob Knight; and Dan Bloom, a former school superintendent in Eudora.

Sebelius said she would make state government leaner and picked Moore, 58, because of his business background and management experience.

Moore said he had accepted the No. 2 spot on Sebelius’ ticket because he believed the state needed “a new direction and a fresh start.”

State GOP Chairman Mark Parkinson called Sebelius’ choice a “gimmick” designed to hide what he said were her liberal politics.