KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the Kansas Legislature's most conservative members and strongest abortion opponents is retiring in next month.
Republican state Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook of Shawnee announced Friday that she will step down Jan. 16.
She said in her announcement that “new leadership is sometimes required" to promote “time-honored" conservative principles.
Pilcher-Cook is a 65-year-old computer software engineer who has served 15 years in the Legislature.
She's been a consistent supporter of new abortion restrictions and a foe of same-sex marriage and measures aimed at combatting anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
Fellow Republicans in her Kansas City-area Senate district will name her replacement.
It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Kansas for 15 years; two terms in the House, and almost three terms in the Senate. But now it is time for me to step down and give that privilege to someone else. My voting record shows I have consistently been honest with the voters and upheld all my campaign promises, repeatedly voting for limited government, reduced spending and traditional family values. Conservatives understand that power comes from the people, and that new leadership is sometimes required to carry on the mantle of these time-honored principles. I expect nothing less from the next senator to represent the 10th Senate district.
Prior to her third term as a state senator, Pilcher-Cook served two terms in the state ouse of Representatives.
