Republican John LaHood elected to south Georgia House seat

John Lahood, pictured with his wife, Crystal, won a special election Tuesday to represent House District 175 in south Georgia. Photo credit: John LaHood for State House: http://www.lahoodforgeorgia.com/

John Lahood, pictured with his wife, Crystal, won a special election Tuesday to represent House District 175 in south Georgia. Photo credit: John LaHood for State House: http://www.lahoodforgeorgia.com/

John LaHood won a special election Tuesday for a south Georgia seat in the state House of Representatives.

LaHood, a Republican and the CEO of Fellowship Senior Living, defeated three opponents to represent House District 175 on the Georgia-Florida border.

LaHood received about 71 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. He will replace former Rep. Amy Carter, R-Valdosta, who resigned in November to take a position with the Technical College System of Georgia.

LaHood was trailed by Treva Gear, a Democrat and educator; Coy Reaves, a Republican who is self-employed; and Bruce Phelps, a Republican emergency medical technician.