Dunn said he is ready to resign but he will wait until a replacement is found.

I read the newspapers too saying (Republican Party chairmen and chairwomen) can’t pick a replacement until I retire and the other side is telling me you can’t quit until they pick a replacement, Dunn said.

Dunn said a big part of the reason he wants to retire is because of his wife’s detoriating health.

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Next year 2 year term is coming up and after serving 3 terms of 4 years I don’t want to start again, Dunn said.

Putting an incumbent in the next year and a half gives them a leg up for the next election, Dunn said.

As part of the ceremony, Faye Hughes, the regional superintendent of Randolph and Perry counties, gave Dunn a plaque as a thank you for the work he has done for the schools.

The Republican Party chairmen and chairwomen in the district of Jackson, Union, Perry, Randolph, Washington, and parts of Monroe and St. Clair counties, a 7-member committee, will choose Dunn’s successor.

I think 8 or 9 applied for it and any of them could take my place, Dunn said. (The committee) has a hard task of choosing.

Dunn asked the committee, most of whom were in the audience at the banquet, to please settle the issue as soon as they can.

Governor Jim Edgar, among the guests at the banquet honoring the senator, said the most competent person for the job must be a good senator and must be electable.

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Edgar said the best advice he could give the committee is to make the decision themselves.

(The committee) knows better than the people in Springfield, Edgar said. I don’t have a preference (in the candidates).

There is speculation James Osberg will replace Dunn’s seat.

My name has been raised as a possible replacement, Osberg said. I’ve been preparing myself for something like this for five years. I’m absolutely sure I’m the right person but (the committee) has to decide that.

Barbara Brown intends to run on the Democratic ticket for the seat and said Dunn’s resignation will only help her bid for the seat in 96.

I think it’s pretty clear why (Dunn) is doing this, Brown said. He is trying to get as much exposure as possible for a Republican candidate to fill the seat.

This gives me a powerful issue to use. Voters don’t like being manipulated. They don’t like being taken for granted. This move helps me, and it helps Democrats.