Local Democratic party leaders voted to appoint Worth Township Committeeman John O'Sullivan to replace Kevin Joyce as the state representative for the 35th District, which includes portions of Chicago's far south side and near southwest suburbs.
The appointment is effective immediately after former Illinois Rep. Kevin Joyce resigned and moved with his family to Florida.
O'Sullivan lost his job as a laborer at Stroger Hospital earlier this year after managers suspected he was skipping out on work and engaging in political activity on the job. A Cook County Health Department spokesman confirms O'Sullivan was fired for swiping-in to work but then being unreachable during the work day.
O'Sullivan appealed the firing and earlier this week a Cook County human resources board overruled the termination and reinstated him with back pay.
The appeals board found there was no proof O'Sullivan left work and his excuses for being unreachable were plausible.
Mr. O'Sullivan has worked for Cook County for 24 years.
When reached by ABC 7, O'Sullivan declined to comment on his employment problems with Cook County. He later issued a statement saying he will not accept a paycheck from the state for his new job as a state representative.
