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KS Democrats Say Pro-School Consolidation Claims Are False

Kansas Democrats say that claims that their party's gubernatorial candidate is pro-school consolidation are false.

Governor Sam Brownback has attacked Democratic challenger Paul Davis on the issue based on remarks made by Davis' appointee to a school efficiency task force.

The appointee, former Republican state senator John Vratil, was interviewed in 2011 by The Topeka Capital-Journal for an article about rural Kansas population decline.

Vratil is quoted saying "rural school districts will be starved out of existence." The Brownback campaign has sent out mailers to Kansans with the title "Davis-Vratil Education Agenda: CONSOLIDATION."

Vratil has since followed up with the Capital-Journal this week, saying there was nothing in the 2011 story to support the contention he sought forced consolidation of districts. Davis says he opposes forcing small districts to combine to concentrate resources.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.