Topeka ? Republican gubernatorial hopeful Robin Jennison said Tuesday that he would favor giving local school districts the ability to raise as much in local funds as they can to improve their schools.

Jennison, a former House speaker from Healy, made the comment while introducing his lieutenant governor running mate, Dennis Wilson, who is a state senator from Overland Park. Wilson also has served in the House, assisted Tim Shallenburger when he was state treasurer and served as Johnson County treasurer.

On school finance, local districts can raise a limited amount of local property taxes to supplement funding.

But Jennison said that limit should be eliminated.

“I don’t think there ought to be a lid on it at all,” he said. “We can’t hold everything equal. Some schools are going to have things other schools aren’t going to have.”

He said the state should set a standard on what students should know and allocate enough funds to meet that standard. Anything extra, he said, should be provided locally.

Jennison also said that if elected “gambling will not be a priority in my administration.” After leaving the Legislature, Jennison worked for several years as a gambling lobbyist.

The other major candidates and their running mates in the GOP gubernatorial primary are Sens. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, and Susan Wagle, of Wichita; and Ken Canfield of Overland Park, who founded an institute on fathering, and Rep. Kathe Decker, of Clay Center.