State Representative Bill Mitchell will be retiring from the Illinois General Assembly at the end of his term in 2019.
The 101st District representative made the DeWitt County Courthouse his location to announce his retirement and calls it an honor to serve the people of central Illinois, a district that has undergone change several times in his 20 years of service.
Representing the DeWitt County Farm Bureau, Terry Ferguson called Rep. Mitchell a good friend to the agriculture community.
Speaking for the veterans organizations of the County, Ron DeVore thanked Representative Mitchell for the many years of coordination with them. Rep. Mitchell was instrumental in the paving of a new parking lot for the America Legion building on Elizabeth Street.
Looking back at votes the Representative would take back and go a different way on, Mitchell says the medical marijuana vote is one he would have voted in favor of instead of against. He did not shy away from the recent tax increase vote he voted in favor of. Rep. Mitchell says he would not change that vote.
Mitchell felt his prediction of the budget crisis all the way back to 2002 with legislation to prevent the increased spending of government was something he was proud of and felt if his legislation would have passed, perhaps Illinois would not be in the mess they are.
Mitchell briefly brought up the victory of the Clinton Power Station and was recognized by several audience members for his work, along with numerous others, in getting legislation passed to keep Exelon in DeWitt County.
The Representative says he will serve out the remainder of his term with plans to stay in central Illinois in his post-retirement years.
