Topeka ? When it comes to Kansas politics, the only thing certain is the uncertainty.

When the last gubernatorial joust started four years ago, Democrat Kathleen Sebelius was the underdog in her quest to occupy the office vacated by a popular GOP governor in a state where Republicans are as numerous as sunflowers on the summer prairie.

But a zig here, a zag there, and Sebelius found herself in November 2002 drawing moderates to the polls and winning against conservative Republican Tim Shallenburger.

Now she’s the incumbent, and many Republicans have visions of her calling the moving van after the Nov. 7, 2006, general election.

Already, House Speaker Doug Mays and former Speaker Robin Jennison want to be her replacement. Add to the list of governor wannabes Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, a newcomer to the statewide political stage.

Barnett faces two definite drawbacks – easing through the briar patch of a party divided and emerging from the Aug. 1 primary as the challenger, and getting known to voters so their first question won’t be “Jim who?”

Medical background

So who’s Jim Barnett?

At age 51, he’s a physician in his hometown where he served on the local school board before being elected senator in 2000. With a quiet, soft-spoken manner, he’s not some traditional, tub-thumping loudmouthed politician.

“He’s intelligent and a capable leader, particularly in health care,” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence. “Jim’s campaigning and Jim’s bedside manner are the same, and that has worked for him.”

Folks shouldn’t be fooled by Barnett’s quiet, unassuming manner.

“In politics, on any given day anyone can win and anyone can lose,” Schmidt said. “Jim has a history in the Senate of picking issues he’s passionate about and picking up votes from wherever he can. He has a record of working with moderates, conservatives and Democrats.”

Barnett’s voting record is mixed, making it difficult to label him. For instance, he opposes abortion, pleasing conservatives. But he joined moderates to vote for more public school funding during this summer’s special session.

“He is kind of his own person. He is more independent than a conservative or a moderate,” said Shallenburger, now state GOP chairman. “Between the liberal and conservative wings of the party, the question is how much is there in the middle that he can draw from?”

For his part, Barnett eschews such labels, calling himself an “Eisenhower Republican,” which he defined as “I’m going to approach the state problems in a practical fashion so we can accomplish our mission.”

Need to build bridges

Whatever he calls himself, or what others call him, one fact remains.

For Barnett to win the primary and take out Sebelius, he must be a bridge builder, finding a way to appeal to both wings of the party and hold them together to have the numerical advantage.

“You need to win 50 percent in the primary. When you come out of the primary, you need to have a large backing,” Shallenburger said. “He probably would be perceived as a middle-of-the-road candidate, but I’m not sure from a practical standpoint how that all will play out.”

Barnett selling himself as a bridge builder is a smart move.

“Anybody who knows anything about Kansas politics knows that Democrats win when Republicans are divided,” said Joe Aistrup, head of the Kansas State University political science department.

“In a year when the number of candidates is limited and there is no consensus heavyweight in the primary, he might have a chance to appeal to the primary constituency of the party,” he said.

Building bridges across a chasm deepened by discord and distrust won’t be easy. Conservatives generally dominate the primaries but blunder in the general election.

“He’s going to have to walk a fine line if he wants to represent himself as acceptable to the moderates and the conservatives. The question is how does he do that and that’s a pretty tough task,” said Ken Ciboski, a Wichita State University political scientist.

There’s been speculation that Sen. Susan Wagle, of Wichita, will be Barnett’s running mate, although he says he’s made no decision.

The problem for Barnett is Wagel is known more for blowing up bridges than building them. For years, she has wrapped herself in the cloak of conservative causes.

“It could hurt him with the moderates,” Aistrup said. “I’m not sure picking someone like Senator Wagle will expand his base.”