Topeka ? A Republican Party official whose moderate politics inspired criticism from some conservatives easily beat back an attempt Saturday to oust him from his party leadership position.

Steve Cloud, of Lenexa, won a four-year term as one of two Kansas representatives on the Republican National Committee. The GOP State Committee voted 97-39 for Cloud over former Kansas Atty. Gen. Bob Stephan, now a Lenexa attorney.

The state committee elected Cloud in April 2002 to the position after RNC member Calvin James, of Jewell, died. James’ term ran through this year’s Republican National Convention, requiring a vote this year.

For the weeks leading up to Saturday’s meeting, rumors circulated among Republicans about a challenge to Cloud, a former state representative. Stephan supporters said he would be more effective in uniting the party’s frequently feuding conservative and moderate wings.

But while Stephan said he would accept the position, he did not campaign for it. He didn’t attend Saturday’s meeting because weather delayed his flight from North Carolina, where he was traveling.

“It’s something you’ve really got to campaign for,” said House Speaker Doug Mays, of Topeka, who had backed Stephan. “You’ve really got to want it.”

Saturday was the second and final day of the GOP’s annual Kansas Days festivities, scheduled each year close to the anniversary of the state’s Jan. 29, 1861, admission to the Union. Hundreds of activists gathered to celebrate the party’s successes and to pledge unity in the face of the GOP’s biggest loss in 2002, the election of Democrat Kathleen Sebelius as governor.

Cloud has riled some conservatives because he has openly supported candidates in primaries in the past. For example, he is finance committee member for 3rd Congressional District candidate Adam Taff, who faces two primary opponents. Cloud wore a Taff sticker at the festivities.

One flier circulating Saturday contained side-by-side pictures of Cloud and national Democratic operative James Carville, under the headline, “Separated at Birth?” It said Cloud “trash-talks elected Republican leaders” and “believes Republicans win when they act like Democrats.”

Cloud said he had never opposed any Republican after a primary. He got involved in primary elections, he said, because he wants GOP candidates who have the best chance of winning general elections.

“What you see is what you get,” he told the state committee.

Earlier in the week, Stephan said he was not campaigning for the job but added, “I am getting plenty of phone calls.” In a letter to state committee members, he pledged to try to unite the party.

But Republican activists said Stephan’s refusal to campaign prevented a more effective challenge.

“It’s awful hard to win an election when you’re not really a candidate and you’re not campaigning,” said Trent LeDoux, the 2nd Congressional District GOP chairman.

The selection of the state’s second representative on the RNC provoked no controversy. Former state Sen. Alicia Salisbury, of Topeka, had no opposition and will replace June Cooper, of Garnett, who is retiring from the job.

Kansas Day briefs

State GOP supports ban on gay marriage

The state Republican Party is supporting a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution reaffirming a ban on gay marriage.

The GOP State Committee adopted a resolution Saturday supporting the measure on a lopsided — but not unanimous — voice vote.

A 1996 Kansas law defines marriage as a union only between one man and woman. However, supporters of amending the Kansas Constitution argue doing so will prevent a court from declaring that law unconstitutional, or forcing Kansas to recognize a gay marriage from another state.

Party regular warns: Sebelius wants more

At least one Republican leader isn’t buying the idea that Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has no national political aspirations.

Former state Sen. Alicia Salisbury, of Topeka, elected Saturday to be one of two Kansans on the Republican National Committee, told fellow GOP activists: “For Kathleen Sebelius, the governor’s office is just a wide spot in the road on the way to Washington” as a U.S. senator or possible vice-presidential nominee.

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran responded that Sebelius was proud to be governor and was focused on challenges at hand, such as strengthening schools and the economy.

Security to be tight for ’04 convention

Republican activists learned Saturday that security at the Republican National Convention this year will be tighter in some respects than during conventions in previous years.

Secret Service guidelines will ban a list of items from the convention floor, including camcorders, cell phones and sticks and poles used to make signs, said June Cooper, a Republican National Committee member.