A Springfield restaurant owner has been chosen to take Tim Butler’s seat in the Illinois House.  Mike Coffey, Jr. will assume the position.

Coffey owns Papa Frank’s restaurant, and he says “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 will take over starting next Wednesday. He is a lifelong resident of Springfield resident and also serves as the Chairman of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA) board, which governs the Bank of Springfield Center.

Butler announced shortly after the election that he was leaving his seat in the 95th District to work for the Illinois Railroad Association.