Ken Russell of Flowery Branch got 37 percent of the vote in the race with Timothy Barr. The district covers parts of South Hall and North Gwinnett counties.
Russell was a private investigator, a retired FBI agent, and U.S. Navy and Vietnam War veteran.
The state House race was his first political race but, according to his campaign website, he had been a campaign volunteer for "multiple" Georgia races and a past delegate to the Republican District Convention and, for the past two years, a delegate to the state GOP Convention.
He and his wife Eleanor were volunteer co-founders of the Spout Springs Library Farmers Market.
Ed Asbridge, President of the South Hall Republican Club, extended his condolences to the Russell family as well. Asbridge says this coming Tuesday's meeting will be dedicated in honor of Russell, one of its founding members.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Ken Russell
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/8/251710