SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois state Sen. Frank Watson, R-Greenville, one of the Legislature's most prominent downstate voices, will resign this month to focus on recovering from the stroke he suffered last fall, he announced Monday.

While no formal list of potential replacements has been compiled, Watson suggested in an interview that state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Highland, should be offered the job.

Watson, 63, a pharmacist and 30-year veteran of the Legislature, will resign Feb. 16. The Senate minority leader until this year, he suffered a stroke in October from which he is still recovering.

"When I had my stroke, I recognized the fact that I had some limitations," Watson said. "I hate to do it ... but you've got to know when to go."

Watson's vacancy will be filled by weighted votes of the Republican Party chairmen in each of the nine counties represented in his sprawling 51st Senate district. The district includes parts of St. Clair and Madison counties, runs east to the Effingham area and stretches north to Decatur.

Senate Republican spokeswoman Patty Schuh said Springfield leaders will have no involvement in choosing Watson's replacement unless the county party chairmen ask for their input. "It will be up to them," Schuh said.

Watson said Stephens, the state representative for the 102nd legislative district that's within Watson's district, was the logical first choice for his replacement. "He ought to get the first chance, if he's interested," Watson said.

The other House member in Watson's district, Robert Flider of Mount Zion, is a Democrat.

Stephens, in an interview, was noncommittal.

"It's very gracious of the senator, but my first concern is for the people of the communities I represent," Stephens said. He called Watson "legendary."

"Whoever replaces Frank Watson, you want to carry on in (his) tradition."

Until last year, Watson, as Senate minority, was the sole downstate presence among the top tier of state government leadership, with the other three legislative leaders and six statewide officials all residing in or around Chicago. (Sen. Christine Radogno, who replaced Watson as Senate minority leader this year, is from suburban Chicago.)

As minority leader, Watson was known for heated floor fights with then-Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, but he also tended to be more bipartisan than some of his fellow Republicans. During the in-party rancor among ruling Democrats in Springfield in the past few years, Watson was sometimes in the ironic position of acting as a go-between for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House leader Michael Madigan, because the two Chicago Democrats weren't on speaking terms.