State Republican Party officials Wednesday speculated that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, may want to become chancellor of Kansas University.

But Sebelius’ office declined to get into a guessing game. “We’ll let the speculators continue speculating,” said her spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran.

Sebelius just ended weeks of talk that she may be serving in President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet.

On Saturday, Sebelius issued a brief statement, saying she would stay in Kansas to work on the budget crisis.

Then on Monday, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced that after 14 years in the job he would step down June 30. He said he plans to work on a book and then resume teaching.

The timing of the two announcements may have fueled some talk about Sebelius’ future but Corcoran sought to squelch it.

“The governor learned of the chancellor’s departure in the news this week — just like the rest of us. We’ve not talked about anything beyond the thoughts she shared about Chancellor Hemenway’s service,” Corcoran said. In her response to Hemenway’s announcement, Sebelius praised the chancellor’s success at KU.

Sebelius’ second — and final — term will expire in January 2011.

Meanwhile, the Kansas Board of Regents next week will talk about how to go about finding a new chancellor.

Regents officials said they will conduct a national search that may take long enough to consider appointing an interim chancellor.