INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Duane Cheney, D-Portage, filed his resignation papers Wednesday and is suggesting Portage city planner A.J. Monroe as his successor.

"I"m done. I turned in a resignation," Cheney said after delivering an immediate resignation to Democratic House Speaker Pat Bauer and the state party. "There's just so much going on in my life, my mother has just entered hospice care ...."

A lawmaker since 1998, Cheney had considered completing the final year of his term but decided he was ready to hand off to Monroe.

"He's just really a very talented young man," said Cheney, 58.. "His position (as city planner) is actually knowing what's needed from government."

Porter County Democratic Chairman Leon West also is backing Monroe, a Democratic precinct committeeman in Portage, to take over the District 10 seat.

"I've had a couple people talk to me," West said. "But I think A.J is going to be the choice."

The Indiana Democratic Party is eyeing July 8 to bring local precinct officials together for separate votes to replace Cheney and Crown Point Rep. Bob Kuzman, who resigned this week to become a lobbyist.

Cheney's District 10 seat covers most of Portage and the surrounding township, as well as a handful of precincts in Center, Union and Westchester townships. Kuzman's District 19 seat includes 10 precincts in Boone, Portage and Unions townships but is dominated by Crown Point and neighboring areas of southern Lake County.

Monroe, who couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday, is the director of community planning and development for Portage. He is in his middle 30s, Cheney and West said.