Topeka ? The chairwoman of the Kansas Senate committee that handles contentious social issues such as gambling and liquor plans to resign from the Legislature on Dec. 6.

Sen. Nancey Harrington, R-Goddard, sent a brief letter to the secretary of state’s office, which released it Thursday. The letter did not say why Harrington planned to resign, and messages left at her home and business were not returned.

Harrington has served three years as chairwoman of the Federal and State Affairs Committee, one of the Senate’s most visible positions because of the legislation that comes before the panel.

Issues considered by the committee have included expanded gambling, legalized Sunday liquor sales and proposed regulations for abortion clinics. Harrington opposes new gambling and Sunday liquor sales and holds strong anti-abortion views.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said Harrington’s resignation would be a loss to the Senate.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with Nancey, even though we were of different political opinions,” Hensley said. “She was always very honest and straightforward.”

Harrington, 50, was appointed to the Senate in December 1994, when Todd Tiahrt won a seat in the U.S. House. Like Tiahrt, Harrington proved a reliably conservative vote on social and budget issues.

She won her first full term in 1996, served the same year as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in San Diego and won re-election in 2000. She and her husband, Rex, own an appraisal business.