Three Republican Party candidates for governor said Tuesday that Kansas should be doing better economically.

State Sen. Jim Barnett of Emporia, Ken Canfield of Overland Park and Robin Jennison of Healy spoke before about 80 people during a forum at the Dole Institute of Politics sponsored by the KU College Republicans.

The three candidates will face off in the Aug. 1 primary with the winner taking on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat who is expected to seek a second four-year term.

The three took no jabs at each other, but all criticized policies under Sebelius. Jennison, a former House speaker, was the most direct.

“We don’t have leadership in the governor’s office,” Jennison said.

He said Sebelius had failed to help resolve the school finance issue before the Legislature.

The three also said they disagreed with legislation Sebelius signed into law that allows the children of some undocumented immigrants to qualify for the lower in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.

Republican candidates for governor gathered for a debate at the Dole Institute of Politics sponsored by Kansas University's College Republicans. Debating Tuesday, from left, are Sen. Jim Barnett, Emporia, Ken Canfield, Overland Park, and Robin Jennison, Healy.

But the main focus of the question-and-answer session was the economy.

“Kansas has not been keeping up with its neighbors from an economic standpoint,” Barnett said.

He called for controlled spending and targeted tax cuts to help businesses and families, and said Kansas could become a leader in renewable energy sources, such as wind energy.

Canfield, an author and founder of the National Center for Fathering, said he would bring “the best and the brightest” to help build small businesses and nurture entrepreneurs.

Canfield also said the best way to reduce child poverty was to “get them in a two-parent, married household.”

Jennison said Kansas needed to increase tourism and find ways to grow the rural economy.

“You take Johnson County out of the Kansas economy, it’s sucking wind,” he said.

On another subject, he said President Bush “has been one of the greatest presidents this country has had.”

Nicole Corcoran, a spokeswoman for Sebelius, defended the governor’s economic record.

Corcoran said employment levels have increased 22 of the past 24 months, state tax revenues are increasing, which indicates a growing economy, and Kansas recently won recognition as a top-10 pro-business state from Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc., a national corporate relocation firm.

“She is very proud to be helping Kansans to move us forward,” Corcoran said.

When asked what made them the candidate to defeat Sebelius, each Republican had various answers.

Barnett, who is a physician, said GOP physicians in other states had done well at the polls defeating incumbent Democrats.

“Physicians can bring back the health care issue,” he said.

Canfield said he thought he would be able to draw national attention to his campaign because his fathering center’s work had garnered supporters across the country.

Jennison said his background in the Legislature would help him work with varied interests.

Bill Walberg, a KU freshman from Sacramento, Calif., said he liked Canfield’s emphasis on building families. “I feel he is more family-oriented,” he said.

Beka Romm, a sophomore from Bennington, said she favored Jennison after the forum. “I think he is the person who most likely could beat Sebelius,” she said.

Two other GOP candidates on the ballot are former Libertarian candidate Dennis Hawver of Ozawkie and retired engineer Richard Rodewald of Eudora.