(Springfield)--Republican Ron Stephens is resigning from the Illinois House seat he has held for twenty seven years. Stephens has been the senior GOP member of the House. He says he is stepping down for personal reasons.

Stephens represented the 102nd House District, which covers all or parts of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, Effingham, Fayette, and Shelby counties. His term would have expired in January of 2013.