SPRINGFIELD - A day after shutting down the state fairgrounds because of major electrical problems, former state Rep. Charles "Chuck" Hartke announced he was quitting as director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Hartke, 63, will leave state government after 18 years in the General Assembly and five years as agriculture director under Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He was earning $128,394 annually.

"After a long career in public service, I feel like now is the right time to spend more time with my family," Hartke said Thursday.

The announcement capped a week in which his agency scrambled to determine the extent of electric problems at the fairgrounds, which host the State Fair and other events.

Dozens of shows, weddings and exhibitions have been canceled or moved to other venues while workers undertake an estimated $3 million in repairs. Officials hope to reopen the grounds this summer and say the fair will go on as planned in August.

Despite the problems, Hartke, who represented the Effingham area as a lawmaker, was praised by the governor.

"As a family farmer and longtime state legislator, he brought unique experience and enthusiasm to the post. I wish him and his wife, Kathy, the best," Blagojevich said.

Tim Stock, Macon County Farm Bureau manager, said Hartke will be missed, especially by farmers in Central Illinois, where Hartke has his roots.

"It will be a major blow for the state of Illinois because he has been a pretty devoted guy," Stock said. "His track record as a legislator speaks for itself. He's always been an outstanding guy and well-liked by his peers."

Julie Stephens, Effingham County Farm Bureau manager, said Hartke's background as a farmer made him seem accessible to those he represented.

"Everybody from this area knows Chuck Hartke," Stephens said. "I think they felt like they could talk with him open and candidly. He was still present in the community, even though he was really busy."

Hartke's assistant, 52-year-old Tom Jennings of Springfield, has been named acting director. He earns $108,964.

Except for the recent problems with the fairgrounds, Hartke's tenure at the agency has been relatively smooth.

It didn't start out that way.

After he was nominated for the post by Blagojevich in 2003, state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, used his power as chairman of Senate Executive Appointments Committee to block Hartke's appointment.

Hendon cited Hartke's "no" vote on legislation in 1999 designed to collect information on racial profiling in police traffic stops.

The measure would have required the state to collect the race of every driver stopped by police from July through December 1999.

During the debate, Hartke said collecting the data might not prove racial profiling is a racist practice. Hartke stated that no Latinos lived in his Central Illinois district. If a local law enforcement officer were to stop a Latino, he might assume the Latino was lost and could offer to help him, he said.

"If he has a legitimate reason for being there, he's let go," Hartke said. "If not, maybe there's a legitimate reason for a search."

Hendon eventually removed his opposition to Hartke's nomination, paving the way for Senate confirmation.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865. Chris Lusvardi contributed to this story.