Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order at the weekend to fill the seat in the Georgia House of member-elect Danny Rampey two weeks after his arrest for theft.
Kemp signed an executive order on Dec. 31, calling on the secretary of state to hold a special election on Jan. 31 to fill the northeast Georgia seat.
After his Dec. 16 arrest, Rampey, 67, who won his race for a seat in the state Assembly, decided to step aside instead of facing a possible suspension as soon as he was sworn into office with other lawmakers on Jan. 9.
The Republican, who won his primary and ran unopposed for the District 116 seat, was arrested by deputies in Barrow County. Authorities said he stole prescription narcotics at the retirement complex he manages. He was later released from custody on a $111,000 bond, Athens Banner-Herald reported….