Former Kansas House Speaker Robin Jennison opened his gubernatorial campaign Tuesday by criticizing Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ handling of school finance matters.

Jennison, who is seeking the GOP nomination, said Sebelius, a Democrat, was largely absent from last year’s struggle surrounding the issue.

“Last year, as the Legislature tried to deal with that difficult issue, the governor was not there,” Jennison said at the Lawrence Visitor Center, where fewer than a dozen people attended a rally as part of Jennison’s 15-city tour to formally announce his candidacy. “The governor was traveling the state, carping at the Legislature and criticizing their work product.”

The Legislature eventually approved a $290 million increase in school funding, only after an order from the Kansas Supreme Court. Jennison said Sebelius should have worked more with legislators, instead of letting “activist” judges dictate the outcome.

“We have a court system that wants to legislate. They are not elected. Our House of Representatives, our Senate is elected,” Jennison said. “I will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Legislature to defend their role as the elected representatives of this state.”

Robin Jennison launched his bid for the Republican nomination for governor. The former House speaker spoke Tuesday in Lawrence, Topeka, Olathe and Pittsburg as part of a 15-city tour.

Sebelius and her aides said Tuesday the governor is working with legislators who are drafting school finance legislation this year.

“This isn’t about one person. This is about the governor and legislative leaders, elected by the people, working together to come up with a solution,” said Nicole Corcoran, Sebelius’ spokeswoman. “That is leadership.”

Jennison, 51, served a decade in the House, rising from chairman of its Appropriations Committee to majority leader and then speaker in 1999 and 2000. He left the Legislature to start his own business, promoting Kansas hunting, while also lobbying.

Jennison said Tuesday he wouldn’t raise taxes to fund education. Instead, he said, the state should allow local school districts to raise as much money as they wish to supplement state funding – an approach critics say would create unfair disparities among rich and poor districts.

• 6News video: Former Kansas House speaker announces candidacy

“The formula that we have today, that tries to treat every school the same, is a formula for mediocrity,” he said. “That’s why we’ve got to have flexibility.”

Jennison faces several other candidates in the GOP gubernatorial primary, including state Sen. Jim Barnett – who spoke Tuesday night to the Young Republicans at Kansas University – attorney Timothy Pickell, family advocate Ken Canfield, former Libertarian candidate Dennis Hawver and retired engineer Richard Rodewald.

But all have a steep road to challenge Sebelius on the fundraising front. Her campaign reported last month it raised nearly $2 million in 2005; Barnett was the top challenger with $281,000. Jennison had raised just less than $48,000.