Garlan Gudger is congratulated by supporters after defeating incumbent Paul Bussman for Alabama Senate seat District 4.

The Times continues its countdown of the biggest local stories of 2018.

A strong showing in Cullman County led Garlan Gudger to a victory over incumbent Paul Bussman in the race for the Alabama Senate District 4 seat earlier this year.

In June’s Republican primary, Gudger claimed more than 64 percent of the votes in Cullman County with 10,485 to Bussman’s 5,739 or 35 percent.

The district, however, covers portions of Lawrence, Winston and Marion counties where numbers varied. Gudger claimed the Lawrence County seat of Moulton but Bussman had nearly 59 percent countywide. Gudger also led Winston and Marion counties on the way to his victory.

A business owner and president of the Cullman City Council, Gudger entered the race of the last day of qualifying and campaigned for strengthening rural Alabama.

“I’ve kept the issue of rural Alabama out front in this campaign, working to improve broadband and looking at the efforts that can help these areas have more in the economy,” Gudger said on election night.

After 14 years on the Cullman City Council, Gudger officially resigned from his position as a councilman during an emotional meeting on Nov. 2, and he was sworn in to his new position during a ceremony at the Cullman Civic Center on Nov. 20.

Bussman, a dentist and business owner as well, was elected twice to serve in the Senate.

Often during his tenure he called for more accountable practices in state government. He also held numerous leadership roles in the community leading up to his election in the Senate when he unseated Zeb Little in 2010.