Carol Hassell, who came in third in the race for the District 1 seat on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, announced Monday she is endorsing Bruce LeVell in the runoff.

"Only one candidate in this runoff race is worthy to be District 1 commissioner — and that's Bruce LeVell," she said in a statement. "In the time I've known him, Bruce has exhibited integrity and honesty. These qualities are essential for a commissioner."

LeVell, a Duluth businessman and active member of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District and MARTA board, said he thought it was "awesome" to get Hassell's support.

"One of the biggest things I've learned over our candidate forums and debates is how focused she's been on light rail and transportation and public safety," LeVell said. "If you look at our agendas, we've always been neck and neck."

In the Aug. 5 runoff, LeVell is up against former Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter, who won 42 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in July.

"I certainly expected it," Lasseter said of Hassell's endorsement. "This doesn't surprise me at all; they are very much in the same line."

LeVell trailed Lasseter in the primary by less than 13 percentage points. Lasseter won 2,714 votes; LeVell won 1,888 and Hassell won 1,869.