Mary Kay Letourneau's father, John G. Schmitz, was an ultra-conservative politician who began his political career in 1964 and successfully ran as a Republican for a seat in the legislature.
He was known for his involvement in conservative political causes and was a prominent figure in American politics. In 1982, it was revealed that he had fathered two children out of wedlock with a former student, which deeply affected Mary Kay Letourneau.