Topeka ? Independent groups are getting active in this year’s gubernatorial race in Kansas, running television ads and mailing out material both for and against incumbent Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The Kansas Values Institute, a group with ties to prominent Democrats and Republicans, mailed out a flier this week critical of Brownback’s record on education spending.

The group was founded in 2012 by Ryan Wright, a former aide to Republican Rep. Lynn Jenkins and former director of Kansans for a Traditional Republican Majority, made up mainly of moderate Republicans.

KVI filed a campaign finance report this week declaring only $2,483.09 in available cash on hand as of July 24.

Dan Watkins, a Lawrence attorney and prominent Democrat, is listed as the group’s chairman. Also on the board are former state Rep. Jill Quigley, R-Olathe, and former state Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood.

Attempts to reach Watkins by phone Tuesday afternoon were not successful.

The flier, received by a Journal-World employee Monday, July 28, is a glossy, four-page, full-color document on heavy stock paper with photos and other graphics spelling out criticisms of Brownback’s budgets and their impact on public schools.

Brownback has defended his budget plans, saying that when increases in funding for teachers’ retirement accounts are included, total spending on education has risen during his term in office.

But the flier accuses Brownback of making “the largest cuts to Kansas public schools in state history,” echoing language often used by Democratic candidate Paul Davis. It is a reference to cuts in base state aid to school districts, money that makes up the bulk of each district’s day-to-day operating expenditures.

An independent analysis by former Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen, who served during both Republican and Democratic administrations, found support for both arguments. Since fiscal year 2011, when Brownback was elected, general state aid to schools has been cut about 4 percent, or $85 million.

But during that time, total spending on schools, including contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, has gone up about $12.9 million, or 0.6 percent. However, student enrollment has also increased during that time, meaning total spending on a per-pupil basis has gone down slightly.

KVI is not the first independent committee to get involved in this year’s race for governor.

The Washington-based Alliance for Freedom began airing radio and TV ads earlier this month praising Brownback for his support of a proposed coal-fired power plant in southwest Kansas.

That plant has been the subject of intense controversy in Kansas. Under Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment denied a permit for the plant, citing carbon emissions as a significant factor in global climate change.

But when Sebelius left office and was succeeded by her lieutenant governor, Mark Parkinson, he named a new secretary of KDHE who approved the permit.

In June, the Sierra Club filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block construction of the $2.8 billion facility.

The Alliance for Freedom has not filed disclosure reports or a statement of organization with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. State law does not require independent groups to file such statements as long as they do not expressly advocate the election or defeat of an identifiable candidate.

According to an Associated Press story, the group had spent $246,000 for the ads.