Johnny Chastain will represent Gilmer County, along with Fannin and a portion of Dawson, as the representative of the Georgia House 7th District.
Chastain won the total vote in a runoff election garnering 4,565 votes while Sheree Ralston received 4,085.
Chastain, from Fannin County, has been with United Community Bank for 30 years and been in banking for 37.
Ralston, the widow of former representative David Ralston, won Gilmer County 2,136 to 1,674.
Georgia Secretary of State’s website puts turnout at 16.74 percent in Gilmer County, 22.78 percent in Fannin and 8.49 percent in Dawson.
Ralston won the initial election held Jan. 3, however, she only received 45 percent of the vote for the district. This triggered a runoff with Chastain who received the second most votes.
The seat opened when Speaker David Ralston, who represented the 7th District died.
Ralston, 68, passed away on Nov. 16 from an “extended illness,” according to his longtime spokesman Kaleb McMichen.
Speaker Ralston was first elected to the House in 2002 and was first elected as Speaker of the House in 2010. He was the longest currently-serving state house speaker in the country.