Eric Bell, an Atlanta airport employee and former aviation officer for the U.S. Navy, won a special election Tuesday for a Georgia House seat representing the Jonesboro area.

Bell replaces former state Rep. Mike Glanton, who resigned in January. Both Bell and Glanton are Democrats.

Bell is a Morehouse College graduate who now works as government affairs coordinator at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to his website.

He ran a campaign that emphasized teacher pay raises, public safety and health care expansion.

Bell received about 62% of the vote in the race against Democrat Herman “Drew” Andrews and Republican Della Ashley, according to unofficial results.

Since Glanton resigned from the Clayton County seat, House District 75 has lacked a representative during this year’s legislative session, which ends March 29.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres