By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – John Hancock, who was director of the Missouri Republican party for the past six years, has stepped down.
Hancock says he's quitting to start his own consulting firm that will work on political and public relations. His first client is a familiar one - the Missouri GOP.
Hancock is a former state representative from St. Louis County. He lost races for secretary of state in 1992 and 1996.
Under his direction at the state party, Republicans carried the top candidate on the ticket three times, including Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent as well as President Bush.