Kansas House Member Doug Gatewood to Retire

A veteran Kansas House member from the state's southeast corner won't be running again this year. Seven-term Democrat Doug Gatewood, of Columbus, announced Monday he's giving up the seat he's held for 14 years because he's taking a job in the private sector. The Cherokee County News-Advocate reports the 56-year-old lawmaker said he'll announce the identity of his new employer in two weeks. But he did say he'll be part of a private-public partnership that will bring jobs to the area. Gatewood serves on powerful House Appropriations Committee. He's also the ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee. In his current non-legislative job, Gatewood handles sales and services for a wholesale tobacco products company. Republicans outnumber Democrats 92-33 in the Kansas House.