A state representative from Jacksonville is leaving his office in a couple of weeks.

Jim Watson will resign to become executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council. His resignation will take effect at 11:59pm on December the 3rd. He says the decision to resign was a difficult one, and that it had been an honor to serve the people of his district.

Watson was first elected to the state house in 2001. His district includes parts of Macoupin, Morgan, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Madison and Pike counties.