Carla’s advocacy for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors was forged in her work as the Crawford County Attorney (1983-1986) and the 40th Kansas Attorney General (1995-2003). She was the first woman elected to each position. While Attorney General, she successfully argued the constitutionality of the seminal Sexually Violent Predator law twice before the United States Supreme Court. Instead of releasing inmates convicted of sex crimes to the street at the conclusion of their prison sentences, they can, if appropriate, be committed civilly to certain mental health facilities for intensive treatment. Approximately 6,000 inmates have been civilly committed in the US under versions of this law. Carla talked about her time in office during a 2026 interview with the Kansas Oral History Project.

In April of 1991, Carla’s best friend, The Rev. Regina Faletti, was murdered by her estranged husband. She dedicates her work in the domestic violence arena to Regina.

In 2003 Carla retired after marrying Larry Steckline, a well-known radio and television agri-business broadcaster. Larry had three children and she and Larry now have nine grandchildren and are great-grandparents to six – and counting! She is also an aunt and a great-aunt.

Carla’s maternal grandmother and mother taught her to knit when she was in high school. She knit off and on for decades, but it was in her retirement that she became passionate about it. She enjoys challenging herself with difficult patterns and new stitch techniques and has created her own designs and patterns. During Lent each year, she exclusively knits for charity, typically stocking caps for children at the Wichita Children’s Home.

It was in 2025 that Carla had an “aha” moment. She was reflecting on the positive emotions she felt when knitting and wondered if that peace could be experienced by survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault? What if their stress and turmoil could melt away as they knitted? From that thought, abundant support of local knitters and the grace of God, Purls of Peace was created. It has served the Wichita community since its inception, but Carla looks forward to taking Purls of Peace statewide.