WINDER, Ga. (AP) – A Republican jailed after winning a race for a seat in the Georgia House has decided to step aside rather than face possible suspension as soon as he is sworn into office later this month,
The decision by Danny Rampey means that a special election will be held on January 31 to elect a new representative for the House seat based around Winder, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Rampey, 67, was arrested last month after investigators say he stole prescription narcotics at a retirement complex he managed.
Republican leaders are pushing Rampey to resign before new lawmakers are sworn in Jan. 9 because of a special election to fill a Republican-only seat because Rampey has no Democratic opponent in the November election.
Rampey’s withdrawal “will ensure our constituents have a voice this General Assembly session after the special election is held,” House Speaker Jan Jones and House Speaker Jon Burns said in a joint statement to the newspaper.
The newspaper could not reach Rampey’s attorney.
Rampey was charged in Barrow County with six counts of obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft, six counts of exploiting an elderly or disabled adult, five counts of theft and one count of drug possession.
Rampey and his family own a chain of private care homes in north Georgia. Authorities said they began investigating him after a prescription narcotic was reported missing.