The newest member of the Illinois General Assembly is set to the take the oath of office later today.

John Anthony was chosen by Republican officials to replace resigning state Rep. Pam Roth of Morris in the 75th House district. The 37-year-old Anthony is a Kendall County sheriff's deputy. He'll be the first black Republican lawmaker in the state Legislature since the early 1980s.

The swearing in is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Grundy County Courthouse in Morris.

Anthony has been a sheriff's deputy since 2008 and has also worked as police officer in Champaign. He and his wife founded a nonprofit organization for children. Their group is called the YARN Foundation and offers afterschool programs, among other things.

Roth says she's moving to Texas where her husband's job was transferred.

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