Gwinnett commissioner Hunter recovering in hospital after heart attack

Gwinnett Commissioner Tommy Hunter suffered a heart attack over the weekend and is recovering at a local hospital, he said Tuesday.

Hunter joined the first Board of Commissioners meeting of 2018 via phone and shared his health scare during the announcements that typically start each gathering. He said he had a heart attack on Saturday and was recovering at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after having “a stent placed in a major artery.”

More from subscriber website myAJC.com | Gwinnett’s biggest, most important and most-read stories of 2017

Hunter said the surgery went well and that he could be released Wednesday. 

“I just wanted to thank everybody for your prayers and standing with us as we go through this,” he said.

Hunter has represented Gwinnett’s District 3 — which covers parts of the Centerville, Snellville, Grayson and Braselton areas — since 2012. He put himself in the spotlight last year after calling U.S. Rep. John Lewis a “racist pig,” leading to months of protests, an ethics complaint and, ultimately, a public reprimand.

Hunter participated in all of the commission’s votes via phone Tuesday afternoon. He was the sole “no” vote as the commission approved the county’s 2018 budget by a 4-1 margin.

MYAJC.COM: REAL JOURNALISM. REAL LOCAL IMPACT.

The AJC's Tyler Estep keeps you updated on the latest happenings in Gwinnett County government and politics. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:

 
• Here's what the Gwinnett Place area may (sort of) look like (one day)
 
• Owner, developer to split disputed $400K in Gwinnett movie studio flap
 
• In deeply diverse Gwinnett, white residents confront minority status

Never miss a minute of what's happening in Gwinnett politics. Subscribe to myAJC.com.

In other Gwinnett news: