BELLEVILLE -- State Rep. Tom Holbrook on Monday resigned from his seat in the Illinois House to head up the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
"The governor has decided to appoint me to the chairmanship of the Pollution Control Board," Holbrook said earlier Monday. "For that reason, I'll be stepping down as state representative in the very near future."
Holbrook, D-Belleville, last week denied rumors that he would be leaving the legislature and said he planned to run again for re-election.
He said Monday that, as of this past weekend, his plan was to run for re-election. He said he spent part of the weekend getting petition signatures required to run again.
Holbrook has represented the 113th House Distinct, comprised of parts of St. Clair and Madison counties, since 1995.
"I love this job," he said of being a state representative. "It's been no greater honor for me than to serve the people of this district since 1995. There's just been no greater honor for me than serving my people in the 113th District."
But he said serving as the head of the Pollution Control Board will mean working in an area that he particularly enjoys. During most of his tenure as a state representative, he has served on the House's Environment and Energy Committee, and currently serves as the committee's chairman.
"It gives me an opportunity to serve everybody in Illinois, not just in my district. It's in an area that I love, which is the environment," he said. 'I've been heavily involved in environmental issues."
Before Holbrook's appointment, the Pollution Control Board had been headed by an interim chairman. Holbrook's appointment is effective immediately.
Holbrook's salary as a state representative was about $70,000. His salary in the new position will be about $120,000.
Holbrook said his getting the appointment is something he and Gov. Pat Quinn have had "in the discussion stage for about a week."
Holbrook voted earlier this year in favor of a 67 percent increase in the state income tax -- roughly the equivalent of one week of pay. Quinn had pushed for the tax increase.
Because Holbrook is a Democrat, it will be up to the Democratic Party chairmen of St. Clair and Madison counties to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Holbrook's current term. Holbrook would have been up for re-election in November 2012.
Bob Delaney, a Democrat and the St. Clair County Clerk, said the Democratic political organization plans to meet Thursday to choose candidates to run for Holbrook's seat and to run for Congress to replace U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, who has chosen not to seek re-election.
"Tommy was a great state rep," Delaney said. "I hate to see him go."
Costello said Holbrook has done an excellent job representing his district.
"While I am sorry we will no longer have him in the Illinois Legislature, it is comforting to know that he will use his extensive experience in dealing with environmental issues and in representing the people of our area and the entire state as chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board," the congressman said. "He is a good friend and a good guy who is uniquely qualified for this position. I wish Tom the very best as he begins this new chapter in his life."