First Woman Speaker Prepares To Move Aside

The first woman Speaker of the House prepares to step aside as a new session of the legislature begins. Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods moved from Minority Leader to Speaker after Republicans won control of the House in the 2002 elections. Hanaway says it’s been an honor to serve as Speaker. Hanaway admits to a bit of melancholy as she leaves the office. She could have served one more term. Instead, she chose to run for statewide office and lost to Robin Carnahan in the Secretary of State’s race. Hanaway counts foster care reform and dedicating a quarter of the tobacco money to life science research among her accomplishments in the House, though many will remember her high profile clashes with Governor Bob Holden – both as Minority Leader and as Speaker.