Rep. Brauer Leaves Illinois House To Join IDOT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A central Illinois lawmaker has resigned from the General Assembly to take a job in Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration.

Republican state Rep. Rich Brauer of Petersburg will join the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Colleagues on the House floor bid him farewell Friday but his new position wasn't revealed ahead of an official announcement expected later Friday.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly confirmed Brauer's appointment but declined further comment.

Brauer has been in the Illinois House for 12 years. He was first elected in 2002 and ran unopposed for re-election last year.

He told House colleagues Friday that he "looked forward to working with you in a different capacity in the future."

Brauer had served on appropriations, travel and arts committees and was the Republican spokesman for the Tourism and Conventions Committee.