Garden City ? The former mayor of Garden City plans to take on the Kansas State Board of Education member who is opposed to educating the children of illegal immigrants and once falsely accused him of being in the country illegally.

But Tim Cruz insisted the decision to seek Connie Morris’ seat on the board wasn’t personal.

“I don’t think our voice is being heard very well on the state board,” said Cruz, a Democrat. “My intention is to get around to the schools in the district – especially in Garden City, in our own community – and be able to represent our community, southwest Kansas.”

Morris, a Republican, is from St. Francis in northwest Kansas. She has already said she plans to run in 2006.

Cruz has not officially filed for the seat but sent a letter of intent to the state on Friday.

Morris’ 2002 campaign platform included attacks on public education for the children of illegal immigrants. Garden City has seen its Hispanic population increase dramatically in recent years.

In 2003, Morris accused Cruz – who was born in Garden City to native-born citizens – of being an illegal immigrant himself. She later apologized, and both have said they consider the incident closed.

Cruz, now the assistant manager of a Sears store in Garden City, also said he didn’t want Morris’ allegation to overshadow the larger campaign issues.

Cruz stayed away from Morris’ anti-evolution stance. The issue, he said, is responsiveness to the district’s concerns.

Republican Sonny Rundell, a moderate who lost the 5th District primary to Morris in 2002 and then mounted an unsuccessful write-in campaign in the general election, stopped short of endorsing Cruz’s challenge but said he’s glad Morris is being challenged.

“We certainly need something more than what we’ve got,” he said.