Olathe ? The chief counsel for Attorney General Paul Morrison said he’s running for Johnson County district attorney because he doesn’t like the way the office has been operating the last five months under Phill Kline.

Rick Guinn announced his candidacy Wednesday to a crowd of more than 50 people outside the Johnson County Courthouse. The election isn’t until November 2008, but the 52-year-old Republican-turned-Democrat said he thought it was time to answer supporters who have wondered about his plans.

Guinn said he decided to seek nomination from the Democratic Party instead of Republicans because he disagrees with how the GOP picked Kline to finish out the term vacated when Morrison became the attorney general.

The change in parties wasn’t done to prepare for a run against Kline, Guinn said. Kline has said he likely will not seek the post in 2008.

Guinn believes the district attorney’s office has been poorly run under Kline, who took over in January to finish an unexpired two-year stint. Guinn said Kline has spent too much time on political agendas and issues such as abortion – distracting him from his criminal justice duties.

“The stability is gone and the priorities have shifted,” Guinn said. “Political agendas are now entering the equation.”

He said staff turnover also has been high with Kline in the office.

“I can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch this deterioration continue,” Guinn said.

Brian Burgess, spokesman for Kline, disputed Guinn’s assertions and said Kline feels the office is running effectively. Burgess said Guinn’s comments were “inaccurate and irresponsible and misinformed.”

Kline had been Kansas attorney general but lost his re-election bid last year to Morrison, a former Republican who was the Johnson County district attorney and switched parties to challenge Kline. But because Morrison had won the county office as a Republican, the GOP had the right under Kansas law to replace him.

Guinn was an assistant district attorney and second-in-command under Morrison for 18 years. He followed Morrison to Topeka and now serves as his chief counsel.

Guinn, who lives in Overland Park and commutes to Topeka, said he will continue working for Morrison while campaigning.

Before Kline’s appointment, Guinn was among those in the running for Morrison’s old job.

“You’ll find during the course of the next 18 months that I’m not a good politician,” Guinn said. “But I am a very good, professional career prosecutor. I know how to keep people safe by keeping the predators and the violent criminals behind bars.”

Johnson County Republican Party chairman Scott Schwab said Guinn’s decision to now seek the Democratic nomination is “a little disturbing.”

“How do you ask the Republicans for a nomination, don’t get it, and then turn around and ask the Democrats for a nomination?” Schwab said. “He’s selling himself out to the Democrats. I’m a little bit burned by it.”

Schwab said the Republicans expect party member and former assistant district attorney Steve Howe to announce his candidacy for district attorney on Thursday. Howe had decided to run prior to Guinn’s announcement Wednesday, Schwab said.

Howe also was a candidate to replace Morrison, but lost to Kline. Afterward, Kline fired him and six other assistant district attorneys, who then sued over claims they were wrongly dismissed.