Today, the Republican Representative Committee for the 95th District of the 103rd Illinois General Assembly has announced the appointment of Mike Coffey Jr. to fill the 95th District vacancy created upon the resignation of State Representative Tim Butler. Coffey will be sworn in and take the oath of office next week on the first day of the 103rd Illinois General Assembly - Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Tim Butler for his service to the voters of his district and wish him the very best of luck on his new career path,” said Sangamon County Republican Central Committee Chair Dianne Barghouti Hardwick. “I also think we have made an excellent choice with Mike Coffey. He’s a Springfield native with many generations of heritage who will work hard for the voters. As a business owner, he knows many of the challenges affecting local families and our local economy. He wants to see positive growth in central Illinois. I am excited to see Mike Coffey as our state representative.”
“It is an honor to be selected to serve residents of the 95th district,” said Mike Coffey. “As a small business owner, I understand both the opportunities of our great state and the struggles of working families. I will work hard to build on Tim Butler's record of dedicated service to our communities and honor the legacy of the hometown of Abraham Lincoln.”
Coffey is a lifelong resident of Springfield resident and owner of the Papa Frank’s restaurant. Coffey currently serves as the Chairman of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA) board, which governs the Bank of Springfield Center.
Members of the Republican Representative Committee for the 95th District include Sangamon County Republican Central Committee Chair Dianne Barghouti Hardwick, who chaired the Committee, Christian County Republican Central Committee Chair Aaron DeGroot, and Macon County Republican Central Committee Chair Bruce Pillsbury.
The appointment was made by a weighted vote of the 95th District Republican county chairs based on the number of ballots cast in each county in the November 8, 2022, General Election. Sangamon County had approximately 94 percent of the vote, Christian County had approximately 5 percent, and Macon County had approximately 1 percent.
Today’s Committee meeting was held at the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee headquarters in Springfield and was open to the public. The meeting was previously announced on Friday, December 9, 2022.