Topeka ? The Republican gubernatorial campaigns of Jim Barnett and Ken Canfield on Monday tangled over an editorial in an evangelical Christian newspaper.

The Chronicle praised Canfield in a piece written by the paper’s publisher, Russ Jones. But Barnett’s campaign noted that Jones also works as Canfield’s press secretary, and he doesn’t mention that fact in the article.

“That Mr. Jones would choose to use his recently purchased publication as a vehicle to endorse a candidate and influence votes through an extraordinarily large print run is certainly his own business,” said Barnett spokesman Rodger Woods.

“However, to do so as a staff member of the candidate receiving the endorsement, without clearly communicating the situation to the readers, is misleading and unethical,” Woods said.

Canfield tried to downplay the incident after a news conference where he and his advisers outlined his economic plan.

“The newspaper did not endorse me. He personally endorsed me,” Canfield said. The charges that the newspaper had an ethical lapse “really have no substance,” he said.

In the July issue of the newspaper, Jones wrote that he felt if he didn’t recommend Canfield to readers of the newspaper, he “would be rebelling against God.”

Jones and his wife, Jackie, publish The Chronicle, a monthly newspaper distributed in five cities in Colorado, Texas, Indiana and Kansas, including Wichita and the nearby area.

The paper is free and has a circulation of about 20,000. The July issue, which included a voter guide to the primary elections, had a print run of approximately 40,000, Jones said.

Canfield, who founded a national fathering center, said all the Republican candidates were courting evangelical Christians.

“I don’t see myself as the, quote, evangelical candidate,” he said.

On the newspaper’s Web site Monday, publisher Jones said he should have told readers about his employment by Canfield.

“In hindsight, I should have disclosed my efforts (as I’ve tried to keep the two roles separate) with the Canfield campaign. It’s our goal to be forthright and authentic.

“Having said that – what a blessing it’s been to serve along side this man with such an honorable reputation and vision for Kansas.

“It’s been exciting to watch Kansans across the state get involved. We’re called to be salt and light. Scripture doesn’t call us to be objective. A-matter-of-fact, the Bible calls us to be ‘set apart,'” he said.

The Chronicle publishers describe the paper as “Your Christian news authority.”

In addition to Barnett and Canfield, the field for the GOP primary on Aug. 1 includes former legislator Rex Crowell, attorney Dennis Hawver, former House Speaker Robin Jennison, attorney Timothy Pickell, and retiree Richard Rodewald.

The winner will face Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, seeking her second term.