Tim Shallenburger

Rep-Kan.

Governor Challenger

Born March 14, 1954

Biography

Born and raised in Baxter Springs, Kan., in the southeast corner of the state, Tim Shallenburger was a bank executive when he decided to run for the Kansas House in 1986. There, he quickly fell in with other conservative Republicans, sometimes known as the "rebels," for their attacks on GOP House leaders.

In 1993, he became House speaker pro tem, and built enough support to topple House Speaker Robert Miller in a leadership race two years later. His victory then ushered in conservative leadership. During his four years as speaker, he became known for advocating a smaller government and large tax cuts, sometimes clashing with moderate GOP Gov. Bill Graves. In 1998, he was elected state treasurer.

Profile

The cornerstone of Tim Shallenburger's campaign for governor is a pledge not to raise taxes, no matter what the state's financial difficulties. He argues that enough waste in government exists to make it possible to cut a significant amount from the budget _ perhaps 5 percent _ without affecting services. He said he's only taking his cue from voters, who don't want the state to take more money out of their pockets when the economy is slow.

"They absolutely believe there's waste in government, and they believe it to the extent that we should believe it."

He also says the state can cut spending as much as $200 million without having to touch aid to public schools. Democrat Kathleen Sebelius has attempted to portray Shallenburger as someone who is willing to cut school spending.

As a House member, Shallenburger supported restrictions on abortion and has the strong endorsement of Kansans for Life, the state's largest anti-abortion groups. He was a sponsor in 1997 of legislation to allow Kansans to carry concealed weapons, which Graves vetoed. The National Rifle Association has endorsed Shallenburger.

Campaigns

Tim Shallenburger likes to say it was environmental issues and not a desire to cut government that brought him into politics. In 1986, rebuffed by his Kansas House member when he expressed concern about mine-related pollution in his home county, he decided to run. And he won.

He won re-election five more times, cementing a position as speaker with conservative support, a reputation among members of both parties for being open and willing to listen, and a genial, self-deprecating manner. He easily won the state treasurer's race in 1998 but remained aligned with conservatives.

He decided to run for governor in October, when, at a regular gathering of conservative leaders, including U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, the group learned that U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran wouldn't jump into the race. He won the GOP primary with 42 percent of the vote over Senate President Dave Kerr, of Hutchinson, and Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, mostly by stressing his opposition to a tax increase.

Yet he acknowledged that he emerged from the primary not very well-known to voters. And he made a statement the day after the primary that has haunted him ever since, suggesting that public schools could withstand a cut in state aid of up to 3 percent if the alternative were raising taxes. He now says that remark was made in the context of cuts Graves imposed in the current budget, but he's had to work to dispel the idea that he's ready to cut education spending.

His campaign is trying to woo moderates by painting Sebelius as a liberal in the mold of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Contact

To reach Tim Shallenburger or staff in Kansas, call 785-862-1200. Email: tim@treasurer.state.ks.us. World Wide Web: http://www.treasurer.state.ks.us http://www.timshallenburger.com.