Topeka ? A state senator from Emporia is seeking the Republican nomination for governor next year.

Senator Jim Barnett made his announcement Thursday. A physician, Barnett was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and re-elected last year.

Barnett said he’s been considering a campaign for the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for about six months.

He said he’s running because he doesn’t think Sebelius has provided leadership and because he’s worried about the economy.

“I think the recurring theme is that Kansas can do better,” Barnett told The Associated Press. “We have a great state but we’re falling behind, and we’re falling behind because we don’t have the leadership we need to move forward.”

Barnett joins House Speaker Doug Mays, of Topeka, and former lobbyist and House Speaker Robin Jennison, of Healy, in the GOP race.

Two other candidates also have filed: Dennis Hawver, an Ozawkie attorney who was the Libertarian candidate for governor in 2002, and Richard Rodewald, a retired automotive engineer from Lawrence who has been a perennial candidate for state and federal office.

“I think Jim will be a strong candidate. He’s a bright, affable senator with substantial health policy experience,” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence.

Barnett, chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, helped draft legislation setting up the new authority to administer state health programs and propose long-term health policy. He’s also been a leader on legislation designed to address obesity and substance abuse.

He successfully fought for a law to require the registration of beer keg sales, and he’s been a vocal opponent of expanded gambling – in contrast to Sebelius’ support for casinos and slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks.

But Barnett said the economy will be a major issue because Kansas is losing private-sector jobs. He also described Sebelius as sitting out debates this year over education funding because she didn’t offer a plan, having watched her proposal for one funded with higher taxes fail last year.

“I believe that people are tired of having leadership that is sitting on the sidelines on the major issues,” Barnett said.

Sebelius’ administration has said repeatedly that the economy is improving, pointing to monthly employment statistics that show job growth from 2004.

“It’ll be interesting to see if any of these legislative candidates can turn the Legislature’s record of shortchanging public schools, preserving the health care status quo and badmouthing the Kansas economy into a convincing platform for governor,” Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said.

Other prominent Republicans have declared they’re not interested in the race, including Schmidt, U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins.

“One of the difficult balancing acts for Jim is going to be navigating the division within the Republican Party,” Schmidt said. “Jim has the ability to appeal to both factions, but sustaining that will be very, very hard.”

And Barnett likely faces opposition from some conservatives. He supported the $148 million school funding plan approved by legislators in July during a special session to meet a Kansas Supreme Court mandate. Mays did not.

Also, the Kansas Taxpayers Network, which opposes higher taxes, has given Mays a lifetime rating of nearly 80 percent on various votes, compared to less than 28 percent for Barnett.

“I think his voting record contrasts pretty well with mine,” Mays said of Barnett. “Up to now, we really haven’t had a moderate in the race. He would be the first person from the left to run.”