Topeka ? A veteran Democrat is retiring from the Legislature after nearly 20 years in the House.

Rep. Bruce Larkin, 55, of Baileyville, announced Tuesday that he would step down in January, a week before the start of the 2006 session.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Brown and Nemaha counties in the Legislature,” Larkin said. “During my tenure in office I have had the opportunity to meet with a large number of constituents, and the people of this district are some of the finest in the state of Kansas.”

Larkin has been a leader on school finance, taxation and agriculture committees since being elected to the House in 1986.

Most recently, he was ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on School Finance, which worked with the Senate to draft the Legislature’s response to a court order to increase school funding. He was also a member of the panel that drafted the 1992 school finance formula.

Larkin said he was retiring to pursue other opportunities in public service.

Democrats in his district will nominate a replacement, who must be approved by the governor.