Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) recently expressed his excitement after being sworn in to represent the new 95th District.

“I’ve been in the service industry for years, and I’m excited and honored by this opportunity to be of service to the community in a completely different way,”  Coffey said, according to a press release. “I don’t take representing the people of the capital of this great state lightly. I understand what that means and who the great people are that live here. I’m eager to go to work for them.” 

Coffey was appointed to fill the vacancy created when former Rep. Tim Butler announced just days after winning the 95th District seat, that he would be stepping down before the new term began. He represented the 87th District starting in 2015.

“As much as I enjoy my work in the Illinois House, the time has come to move on and pursue a new avenue in my career. One never knows when opportunities will arise and I have had an excellent opportunity come before me just recently,” Butler wrote in a Nov. 11 Facebook post. “I plan to resign from the House before the start of the 103rd General Assembly to work full-time with the Illinois Railroad Association. The people we serve come first in these positions, and I profoundly thank everyone from the 87th District for putting your trust in me to be your voice.”

WCIA News reported in January that Coffey was chosen to replace Butler by the Republican Party chairs in the district. That includes portions of Sangamon, Christian, and Macon counties. Based on the number of ballots cast in the last election, the Sangamon County GOP party chair had 94% of the vote, WCIA said.

In his life outside the legislature, Coffey managed Saputo's restaurant, and opened Papa Frank's in 2015, according to his official biography page. In addition, he is the Chairman of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority board.