JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A Democratic state lawmaker from St. Joseph has resigned to accept an appointment to a Buchanan County office.

Soon after Ed Wildberger resigned from the House on Monday, he was appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to be the Buchanan County recorder of deeds. Wildberger was first elected to the House in 2002 and couldn't seek re-election in November 2010 because of term limits.

The 60-year-old ran unsuccessfully last year to be House minority leader. He is the fifth state lawmaker to resign this year, and the fourth from the House.

Wildberger will take over as recorder of deeds for Karen Higginbotham, whose retirement went into effect on Sunday.

Nixon called a special election for Feb. 2 to fill Wildberger's legislative seat.