Illinois state Rep. Tim Butler plans to resign, here's why

Patrick Keck, State Journal-Register
·1 min read
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Illinois state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, makes the case that Senate Bill 539, a bill dealing with ethics, does not go far enough during debate on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives on the last day of session at the state Capitol on May 31, 2021. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]
Illinois state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, makes the case that Senate Bill 539, a bill dealing with ethics, does not go far enough during debate on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives on the last day of session at the state Capitol on May 31, 2021. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]

State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield announced Friday that he will resign from his post prior to the start of the 103rd General Assembly next year.

Butler, who has served as a representative of the 87th House District, since 2015, faced no general election competition in the race for the 95th District. The district includes parts of Sangamon, Christian and Macon counties. The decision to resign comes as he plans to work full-time with the Illinois Railroad Association.

"As I have said from the day I was sworn in, I am not going to do this job forever," he said in a Facebook post. "My fourth great-grandfather, Lewis Barker, served in four General Assemblies. Abraham Lincoln served in four General Assemblies. If four terms are good enough for them, four terms are good enough for me."

Butler's announcement follows one earlier this week from House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, who said he will not be seeking the leadership position in the upcoming session.

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His replacement would be appointed by the Sangamon County GOP, which could select someone from a list of interested applicants. Potential options include state Rep. Sandy Hamilton, coming off a loss to state Sen. Doris Turner for the 48th Senate District on Monday, or Kent Gray, whom Butler defeated in the June primary.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: State Rep. Tim Butler of Springfield, Illinois, plans to resign