The Republican gubernatorial primary features a campaign between a U.S. senator who wants his chance leading the state’s executive branch and a political newcomer who says the public is ready for a shakeup.

Sen. Sam Brownback says his political experience puts him in a position to help the Kansas economy grow.

“I’ve got a number of contacts and work that I’ve been able to do. What I hope I can do is bring more people and jobs and opportunities to the state,” said Brownback, who was elected to serve the rest of Bob Dole’s Senate term in 1996 and won two more full terms in 1998 and 2004.

But Joan Heffington, of Derby, says she offers solutions the state’s politicians, including Brownback, have been unable to achieve.

“For myself, I’d like there to be a biblical and constitutional reason for every law passed, even if it’s just ‘love your neighbor as yourself,'” said Heffington, who operates the Association for Honest Attorneys, aimed at creating public awareness of attorneys’ practices.

Brownback and his running mate, state Sen. Jeff Colyer, R-Overland Park, said the state needs to focus on growing private sector jobs during economic difficulty.

The team’s road map opposes tax increases and instead says the state should focus on adding jobs in areas of animal health and renewable energy, especially in rural counties losing population.

“We’ve got to grow wind energy and more ethanol. We need to be one of the energy centers of this country,” Brownback said. “That can grow rural jobs where we haven’t seen much growth in jobs for some period of time.”

Brownback’s plan on education includes improving third-grade reading levels and making sure students are prepared to enter the work force or attend college after high school.

Heffington wants to help bring more population to rural areas and mentioned eliminating property taxes for people 65 and older.

She wants to overhaul the state’s legal system by electing all judges and creating citizen review boards in counties. She said the boards will help create jobs and help review complaints against judges, courts, law enforcement and schools to help ensure settlements without litigation.

“We have to give government back to the people,” said Heffington, whose running mate is Mark Holick, pastor of Spirit One Christian Center in Wichita.

Brownback has the backing of many state Republican leaders, including some popular moderates like former Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger.

A Survey USA poll released Monday showed Brownback and Colyer leading Heffington and Holick by 73 percent to 19 percent among 787 likely GOP primary voters.

The winner of the Aug. 3 primary will face state Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, and other third party candidates in the Nov. 2 general election.