Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recalled in a statement on Sunday that the state of Beach had “lost a giant” and that Issachan was “one of its greatest politicians and a leader of the staff dedicated to making his state and country better than he had ever discovered”.
“Johnny Isaacson expressed what it means to be a Georgian. Johnny Marty was a dear friend to women and me – as he was to many,” Kemp said in a statement.
“I quit a job I wanted because my health challenges affected me, my family and my staff,” Isaacson said at the time. “Because of the growing health challenges I face, the citizens of Georgia have decided that I will not be able to work for a long enough period of time. Leaving in the middle is against every thread of mine.
Born in Fulton County, Georgia, he began his official political career in 1976 as a member of the State General Assembly. He failed to run for governor of Georgia in 1990 and was elected to the state Senate in 1992. Isaacs also competed. He was Chairman of the U.S. Senate and Board of Education of Georgia in 1996, where he served in the Chamber from 1999 to 2004, before winning a seat in the U.S. House.
Former Republican Sen. David Burdo, who has been with Sen. Issacson since his retirement in 2015, recalled his fellow Georgian in a statement Sunday morning.
“Johnny was a talented colleague, a mentor I expected and a friend I loved very much,” Berdu wrote. “The last few years have not been easy for Johnny, but he has responded with resolute determination to every obstacle. His dry intellect and kind heart will be missed by all who know him.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
Aaron Bellish and Alex Rogers of CNN contributed to this report.
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