BY FREDA MIKLIN
STAFF WRITER
On December 1, Carbondale Republican State Sen. Bob Rankin, the longest serving member of the general assembly’s Joint Budget Committee, announced he will resign from the state Senate on the day after the 2023 legislative session begins.
Rankin will be replaced by someone chosen by a Republican vacancy committee. He entered the state Senate in the same manner three years ago, when he was appointed by a Republican vacancy committee to complete the term of Sen. Randy Baumgardner (R) of Hot Sulphur Springs, who resigned after sexual harassment accusations against him arose.
Rankin was elected to a full term in the state Senate in 2020 and would have been eligible to run for re-election to another term in 2024. He said, “After proudly serving this state for the past 10 years, I have made the decision to move forward with the next chapter of my life.”
Rankin was scheduled to serve on the Joint Budget Committee that is developing the fiscal year 2023-2024 state budget. His replacement for that position has not yet been named.
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