Concealed Carry Advocate Phelps Resigns From IL House For Health Reasons
Harrisburg Democrat Brandon Phelps (left), testifying at a 2013 state Senate committee hearing for concealed carry legislation, flanked by fellow sponsor Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. Phelps resigned from the Illinois House on Friday for health reasons. Chris Slaby/NPRIllinois
Illinois State Representative Brandon Phelps has stepped down. The Harrisburg Democrat's resignation from the seat he's held in the 118th District in southern Illinois since 2003 was effective Friday.
In a statement, Phelps says he resigned in "the interest of my personal health.'' Phelps injured one of his eyes in a hunting accident years ago and problems with the eye have caused him to miss time in the General Assembly in recent years.
Phelps championed concealed weapons legislation and helped push through the state's concealed carry act in 2013.
In addition to his work to pass concealed carry, Phelps said he worked in a bipartisan manner "to pass concealed carry, protect our state’s transportation funding, support our state’s agriculture, save 9-1-1 services and expand the use of coal, oil and gas for our region.”
Massac County Democratic Chairman Jeff Stafford says he's not certain about the process to replace Phelps. Typically, county chairman in the counties of the legislative districts meet with candidates for the post and then vote on a replacement.