JEFFERSON CITY — The executive director of the Missouri governor's mansion preservation group is retiring next summer after more than 30 years.
Mary Pat Abele announced Monday she plans to retire in June from the Missouri Mansion Preservation Inc. Abele says she announced her retirement early to avoid the appearance that it was prompted by the newly elected governor.
The state is in the middle of a $3 million renovation project of the Governor's Mansion, which was built in 1871. The work is focusing on the roof, outside masonry and the heating and cooling systems.
The preservation group, founded in 1974, has created a search committee for a new executive director. Abele has been the director since 1975.