BROOKVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Republican Party officials have picked a southeastern Indiana county councilman as the replacement for the former Indiana House majority leader who abruptly resigned last month.

Precinct committee members in a Thursday night caucus in Brookville elected Randall Lyness of West Harrison to represent District 68 in next year’s legislative session. He was picked over three other candidates to complete the term of former Rep. Jud McMillin that runs through the November 2016 election.

McMillan resigned from his seat a week after he sent a text message to acquaintances, apologizing for “anything offensive” sent to them from his cellphone, without elaborating.

Lyness is a member of the Dearborn County Council and lost the GOP primary when he sought a Indiana House seat in 2010.