Rolling Meadows' mayor to replace Matt Murphy in Senate

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (AP) - The Republican Party has chosen a suburban Chicago mayor to replace state Sen. Matt Murphy, who resigned to take a job in the private sector.

The selection late Thursday of Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney came as three contenders removed their names from consideration.

Rooney said it will be an honor to represent the 27th Senate District, located northwest of Chicago.

The 48-year-old Rooney was elected to his second term as mayor last year. He says he'll step down in the coming weeks.

Murphy, a nearly 10-year Senate veteran and top spokesman for the Illinois GOP's agenda, announced his resignation last month, saying the job he is taking "allows me to better meet my family obligations." He began his new job Friday with Mac Strategies Group, a public affairs and lobbying firm.