OKAWVILLE BASKETBALL COACH TO REPLACE SEN. DUNN

DUQUOIN, Ill. -- David Luechtefeld, a veteran basketball coach at Okawville High School, will replace Illinois state Sen. Ralph Dunn, R-DuQuoin, in the 58th District.

The district's seven Republican county chairmen unanimously agreed on Luechtefeld to replace Dunn, who announced his retirement in July.

Dunn, 81, cited his age and concerns for his wife's health as reasons to step down from the seat he has held since 1985, leaving more than a year left on his unexpired four-year term.

Dunn's district includes all of Jackson, Perry, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties, and portions of Union and St. Clair counties.

Luechtefeld taught American history and government at Okawville High School for 33 years before retiring from teaching last year. Luechtefeld, a Chester native, is still coach and athletic director at Okawville. He is a graduate of Okawville and St. Louis University.

Luechtefeld's appointment was announced Friday, the day Dunn's retirement went into effect. Luechtefeld was one of eight Republican candidates seeking Dunn's post. He will seek re-election to the position next year, as the incumbent.

To date, no other Republicans have indicated they will be a primary candidate against Luechtefeld.

Two Democrats have announced they will be candidates, Barbara Brown of Chester, a professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and Tony Mayville of DuBois, a coal miner in Coulterville.