State Board of Education member Walt Chappell has switched to the Republican Party.

Chappell, of Wichita, who won election to the 10-member board as a Democrat, said Tuesday that he changed his party affiliation last week.

He said he switched because he supported the tax position of Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, who has opposed tax increases.

Chappell said he had been a Republican all his adult life until he ran for the state House in 2006 when he ran as a Democrat.

He lost that race, but then was elected in 2008 to the State Board of Education. He said he hasn’t decided on whether to seek re-election next year.