Wichita House Member to Step Down

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A Wichita Democrat plans to resign from the Kansas House over what she says is anti-education rhetoric in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Rep. Carolyn Bridges announced Tuesday that she will step down Sunday.

Bridges was a school principal for 25 years before being elected to the House in 2012. She told The Wichita Eagle that educators are, in her words, “just beat up daily by the people who don’t believe in public education.”

She said her 83rd District needs to be represented by someone who won’t take anti-education rhetoric as personally as she does. She’s served on the Education and Taxation committees.

House Education Committee Chairman and Wamego Republican Ron Highland said lawmakers don’t intend to attack teachers and must be willing to listen to differing opinions.