Topeka ? Conservative Republicans who hope to make the teaching of evolution a key issue in this year’s Kansas Board of Education races are leaving two moderate Republicans alone.

Sue Gamble of Shawnee, the only Kansas City-area board member whose seat on the board is up for election this year, is running unopposed. So is another moderate, Carol Rupe of Wichita.

“I had anticipated being the target and was preparing for that,” Gamble said after the Thursday deadline passed without a challenger filing.

Scott B. Poor, executive director and general counsel of the Kansas Republican Party, said he suspected conservative Republicans couldn’t find anyone willing to take on Gamble or Rupe.

“Most recognize that Sue and Carol will be re-elected on their record of past performance,” Poor said.

But with three other spots on the 10-member board also up this year, fights are shaping up elsewhere.

Tamara Cooper, the executive director of the conservative Kansas Republican Assembly, said the group would work to unseat Bruce Wyatt of Salina and help Steve Abrams of Arkansas City hold off his moderate challenger.

Both face opposition from fellow Republicans. Kathy Martin of Clay Center is challenging Wyatt, and Abrams is being challenged by Tim Aiken of Derby.

In 1999, conservatives on the board drew national attention when they succeeded in playing down the teaching of evolution.

The moderate majority that took control in 2000 reversed that vote, and the 2002 election created a 5-5 split: conservative Republicans on one side, three moderate Republicans and two Democrats on the other.

One of the conservative members not up for re-election, John Bacon of Olathe, said he hoped evolution would be an issue in this year’s races.

“I think it’s something the citizens — the people who care enough to vote — need to weigh in on,” he said.

Most of Lawrence is represented on the board by Bill Wagnon, a Topeka Democrat. He will face a challenge in November’s general election from Robert Meissner, a Topeka Republican.

Janet Waugh, D-Kansas City, Kan., holds the District 1 seat on the board, which represents eastern Douglas County. Her term does not expire until 2007.