SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Eddie L. Jackson, Sr., the East St. Louis city councilman, took his seat in the Illinois House for the first time about an hour ago, after his appointment Friday to replace the late state Rep. Wyvetter Younge, D-East St. Louis.

Jackson, a Democrat, addressed his new House colleagues in a brief floor speech, focusing on Younge’s long legacy in the House, where she’d served more than three decades. “East St. Louis loved her and she loved East St. Louis,” he said. “She is an icon for East St. Louis.”

Jackson said afterward that one part of Younge’s legacy he doesn’t intend to continue is her habit of driving the hour and a half home to East St. Louis every night while the Legislature is in session, rather than staying in Springfield, as most lawmakers do. Jackson said he will have a Springfield address during session.

Younge died Dec. 26 after a brief illness, and Jackson was appointed by Democratic Party leaders in St. Clair and Madison counties, which encompass her district. Since Younge had won re-election in November for the two-year House term that formally starts Wednesday, Jackson will fill that term, which ends in January 2011.