Longtime Idaho State Lawmaker Has Passed Away

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former state Rep. Kitty Gurnsey who served in the Idaho Statehouse for more than 20 years has died. The Spokesman-Review reports that 87-year-old Gurnsey passed away Sunday.

The Republican from Boise was first elected to the Idaho House in 1974. At the time, she was just one of nine women lawmakers serving in the Idaho Legislature. Gurnsey went on to co-chair the powerful Joint Finance Appropriations budget committee for 16 years.

Her political career also included sponsoring legislation to establish state-supported kindergarten in 1974 and opposing an initiative to limit property taxes in 1978. Gurnsey's legislative district has since been entirely represented by Democrats since her retirement in 1996.