
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Several weeks ago, Illinois Review reported that rumors were swirling that shuffling was about to take place, moving lawmakers to plush Rauner administration jobs. A second move took place this week.
After serving 12 years in the Illinois House, Republican State Representative Rich Brauer resigned this week to join the Rauner Administration as assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Brauer, whose district is based in northern Springfield, submitted his resignation Wednesday, launching another search for a House replacement. Wednesday, State Rep. Avery Bourne was sworn into succeed State Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, who resigned his 95th District House seat to head up the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Brauer's replacement will be picked within 30 days by GOP county chairmen. whose votes are weighted according to how many votes Brauer received in 2014 in each county. Tazewell County's share is 17 percent, Sangamon County's is 48 percent, Logan County's is 23 percent and Menard County's is 12 percent.
Thus far, one name circulating is Congressman Rodney Davis's district office chief of staff Tim Butler. He worked at Springfield's St. John's Hospital before joining Davis' staff in 2013. He also served as Congressman Ray LaHood's district office COS and campaign manager before joining Davis.