Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Shallenburger announced Friday the creation of a committee to advise him on how to make state government more efficient.

“There has to be a way to use business practices to help government be more efficient,” Shallenburger said Friday at a news conference in Overland Park in which he announced creation of the committee.

The panel, to be led by Pittsburg businessman Gene Bicknell, is to meet within the next two weeks to begin pursuing its goals of reducing red tape and improving service to taxpayers.

Bicknell lost a bid to be the GOP nominee for governor in 1994.

Shallenburger has pledged not to raise taxes and has said he would cut spending to close a major budget deficit anticipated in Kansas state government.

He will face Democrat Kathleen Sebelius in the November election.