Topeka ? A Johnson County legislator who often voted with the House’s conservative Republican leaders on education funding and social issues is resigning.

Rep. Dean Newton, R-Prairie Village, said Monday he is giving up his seat to become vice president of sales and marketing for Delta Dental of Kansas, the state’s largest provider of dental coverage. His last day as a legislator is Friday.

“I just couldn’t be gone for three months out of the year,” Newton said in an interview, referring to the length of the Legislature’s annual session.

He acknowledged his family also was a consideration. He is the father of 1-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.

Newton, a 35-year-old attorney first elected in 2000, voted with House Republican leaders in March when they drafted a plan for increasing aid to public schools by $142 million.

After the Kansas Supreme Court declared that plan inadequate and ordered legislators to provide additional money to schools, Newton supported a $139 million proposal favored by House GOP leaders.

But Newton also sided against GOP leaders, voting in favor of the compromise, $148.4 million plan approved by legislators in the special session, and in 2004 in favor of a $155 million plan raising sales and income taxes.

His district, the 21st, runs along the state line with Missouri and includes parts of Leawood, Overland Park and Prairie Village.

Under Kansas law, Republican precinct committee members in Newton’s district will name his replacement.