State Senator John Bulloch of Ochlocknee is stepping down from the seat he’s held since 2003. He’s been suffering from a form of meningitis.

Bulloch represents southwest Georgia’s state Senate District 11, which includes Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Seminole and portions of Mitchell and Thomas Counties. A special election for his seat will be held on Jan 8.

The 65 year-old republican Senator is a farmer. Bulloch chairs the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee. His case of meningitis wasn’t connected to the outbreak of fungal meningitis that began in the fall and has resulted in 36 deaths so far.

Tags: state Senate, John Bulloch, Ochlocknee