MORTON, Ill. – Leaders in Tazewell and McLean Counties will use a newly-elected representative to fill out the term of a retiring one.
Bill Hauter (R-Morton) will be the 88th District replacement for Keith Sommer for the remainder of the 102nd General Assembly. Hauter will serve during the lame duck session, which is scheduled from January 4th to the 10th.
Hauter won election to the newly drawn 87th District seat in the 103rd General Assembly, which starts on January 11th. He won the seat unopposed.
In a statement, Tazewell County GOP Chairman Jim Rule said the appointment of Hauter was one that “makes sense.”
“Since Representative-Elect Hauter will be sworn in and will take the seat of the newly drawn district at the start of the 103rd General Assembly, it just made sense to appoint him to the open seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Keith Sommer and for him to get an early start,” Rule said.
Rule said it was important for residents in the 88th District to have a voice in the lame duck session, including a potential vote on an assault weapons ban.
He also thanked Sommer for his years of service to his district and the state of Illinois.
