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

Gov. 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 warning Kansans of the “Davis-Vratil Education Agenda: CONSOLIDATION.”

Vratil told the Capital-Journal this week that there was nothing in the 2011 story to support the contention he sought forced consolidation of districts.

Davis has said he opposes forcing small districts to combine to concentrate resources.