ATLANTA — Emily Dunn was elected Wednesday to serve as the next 9th District representative on the State Transportation Board.

Dunn, of Fannin County, ran unopposed and was elected unanimously at the state Capitol by legislators from the 9th District, which includes most of North Georgia.

"I'm looking forward to it," Dunn said. "I like community work, and I think that's going to be a big part of making sure transportation issues are taken care of in the 9th District."

The Georgia Department of Transportation is governed by the 13-member State Transportation Board.

Dunn will fill the unexpired term of Steve Gooch, who was elected to the state Senate in November.

Her election to the DOT Board is not her first foray into politics.

She has served as chairwoman of the Fannin County School Board for 10 years.

Dunn is president of Tom's Amusement Co. and vice president of the board of directors for the Amusement and Music Operators Association.

She is also heavily involved in the community.

"I feel like I have a very well-rounded experience," Dunn said.

She is chairwoman of the Fannin Literacy Action Group, serves on the board of directors for North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville and is on the Fannin Regional Hospital Board of Trustees.

"I had the pleasure of nominating Emily," said state Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville. "We're very fortunate to have her as our DOT representative."

Gooch was in the Senate Chamber Wednesday to help elect Dunn to his old post.

"I'll be there to help her with anything I can," Gooch said. "She'll do great. She's got a lot of people pulling for her."

There has been a lot of turnover in the 9th District over the past few years, beginning with Mike Evans, who resigned in April 2008 after admitting to a romantic relationship with then-DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham. He had just been re-elected to a five-year term on the board. Dalton lawyer Steve Farrow succeeded Evans. He resigned in August 2009, citing personal issues.

Gooch, former chairman of the Lumpkin County Commission, won election to the transportation board in October 2009.

Don Grantham of Augusta won the hotly contested race for the 10th District seat, which encompasses much of Northeast Georgia. He beat Pat Bell of Jackson County and Doc Eldridge of Athens.

Grantham is the president of Forest Sales Corp. and served on the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Commissioners for seven years. He spent much of his time there on the engineering services committee, which dealt directly with DOT.

Jeff Lewis defeated incumbent David Doss in the 11th District northwest of Atlanta.

Robert Brown was also elected to a second six-year term for the 4th District that includes parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties.

Associated Press contributed to this report.