After serving nearly 17 years on Utah's Capitol Hill, Sen. David Steele, R-West Point, announced his resignation today.
Steele, Utah's second most senior state senator, submitted his resignation letter to Sen. President Al Mansell, R-Sandy, in a Monday afternoon meeting.
Steele cited the desire to spend more time with his family and on the job as the state director of Adult and Continuing Education.
First elected to the Senate in 1986, Steele went on to chair numerous legislative committees, including Higher Education, Public Education and Executive Appropriations. He was elected to a fourth term last November.
In addition to his legislative duties, Steele has been serving as commissioner on the National Education Commission of the States, and the Information and Policy Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures.
His resignation is effective immediately for Senate District 21, which is located entirely in Davis County.
Members of the Republican Davis County Central Committee will forward up to three names to Gov. Mike Leavitt to pick Steele's replacement. That individual will serve until the next general election in 2004.