FORSYTH COUNTY – Forsyth County voters welcomed back a familiar face to be their coroner Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s Republican primary, Lauren McDonald III, a partner in McDonald and Sons Funeral Home in Cumming, beat out Stan Rutledge, deputy coroner and paramedic, for the party’s coroner nomination.

McDonald previously served as coroner for 12 years before running unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2012.

He said he’s happy to be back.

“It feels great,” he said. “You work hard to run for an office, and you’re successful. I’m so glad that the citizens of Forsyth County had enough faith in me to return me to the coroner’s office. It was a nice three-year break – I’m not going to deny that – but I’m excited about going back and getting back to work.”

Rutledge could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.

Among the duties of the coroner’s office is to determine the cause, manner and circumstance of death under the Georgia Death Investigation Act. The coroner works closely with the sheriff’s office.

The county’s current coroner, Mary Beth Pais, did not seek re-election.

McDonald won the race with 12,812 votes, which was about 72 percent of the 17,853 total.

Since no Democrat qualified for the primary for this position, it appears McDonald will run unopposed in November’s general election.

When asked what he plans to do once he takes office, McDonald said he is looking forward to working with the sheriff’s office and citizens.

“There are a few things that we’re looking for and changing, but serving the community,” he said. “It’s going to be nice to work with the sheriff’s office and have a great relationship with them that works great daily.”