Jan Pauls
Today in Hutchinson, funeral services are being held for a stalwart pro-life leader, former State Rep. Jan Pauls, who died last Wednesday at age 64. She had endured a variety of health challenges over the last few years.
Pauls was a Reno County attorney who served in various legal positions, including county district judge. She was appointed in Aug. 1991 to fill the district 102 state rep vacancy under pro-life Democrat Gov. Joan Finney.
Pauls served 26 years at the Statehouse, until 2017– the last two years as a Republican. The withering of the pro-life position and other policies in the Democrat Party platform caused her, in her words, “to go from Blue Dog Democrat to Blue Collar Republican.”
UNWAVERING VOICE FOR LIFE
As a legislator, Paul’s absolute defense for the unborn was there from the start and never wavered. She not only voted pro-life, she regularly articulated compelling support for it–and against hostile proposals– at the podium during House debate.
The KFL legislative team always sought her input on new pro-life measures and her counsel in persuading wavering reps to vote for life.
“Jan had the courage of her convictions. She was a pro-life champion,” remembered KFL president, Joe Patton, who served as a state legislator with her from 2007 through 2012.
Kansas Catholic Conference executive director Michael Schuttloffel commended her. “Jan served in the front lines of the greatest human rights battle of our time: the fight to protect innocent, defenseless, unborn human beings from death by abortion. When others succumbed to political pressure on this issue, Jan stood strong as Gibraltar.”
Lance Kinzer, past KFL president and a State rep from 2004-2014, also had deep respect for her professionalism. “One of the most striking things about Jan was her attention to detail; she truly read every word of every bill, every amendment, and every conference committee report. She did this because she understood that small details mattered in the way a new law would be interpreted, applied and enforced. To me, the work ethic associated with this level of effort was the most impressive thing about her –and made her really stand out as a legislator.”
As State Rep, at the close of the legislative session in 2016, Pauls pushed hard to get Simon’s Law passed via conference committee. The measure reflected her long-time commitment to reforming Kansas law to protect children and families. (The measure became law this July.)
In our experience, Rep. Jan Pauls did not aspire to preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.
Rather, she was a wise and hard-working servant of Kansas and champion for life. May she rest in peace.
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