Former Georgia Secretary of State David Poythress dies

January 19, 2017 at 9:50 a.m. | Updated January 19, 2017 at 9:50 a.m.

by Associated Press

The American and Georgia state flags fly at half-staff to honor the passing of former Gov. Carl Sanders as snow plows line up outside the Georgia Department of Transportation's Maintenance Operations Facility during a statewide severe winter weather exercise, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, in Atlanta. More than 600 participants from local and state government agencies, organizations and volunteer groups took part in the mock winter storm. Less than year after a snowstorm triggered an epic traffic jam that brought metro Atlanta to a halt, Georgia emergency management officials are highlighting what they'll do differently next time while acknowledging limitations in how they can respond to a major winter storm. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The American and Georgia state flags fly at half-staff to honor the passing of former Gov. Carl Sanders as snow plows line up outside the Georgia Department of Transportation's Maintenance Operations Facility during a statewide severe winter weather exercise, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, in Atlanta. More than 600 participants from local and state government agencies, organizations and volunteer groups took part in the mock winter storm. Less than year after a snowstorm triggered an epic traffic jam that brought metro Atlanta to a halt, Georgia emergency management officials are highlighting what they'll do differently next time while acknowledging limitations in how they can respond to a major winter storm. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ATLANTA (AP) - Former Georgia Secretary of State and two-time gubernatorial candidate David Poythress has died.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the 73-year-old Poythress died Sunday. He suffered from a longtime lung illness.

Poythress entered state politics in 1979, when he was appointed secretary of state. He later won a term in office.

The Bibb County native was also elected Labor commissioner and served as head of the Georgia Army and Air National Guard.

He served as a deputy state revenue commission, assistant state attorney general and commissioner of the Department of Medical Assistance. But Poythress never achieved his goal of serving as governor, losing in two separate runs.

Survivors include Poythress' wife Elizabeth, a son and two stepdaughters.

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