DALTON, Ga. — One of the two candidates in the Jan. 10 special election runoff for state Senate District 54 filed for bankruptcy in June 2013, according to court records.

Former Whitfield County Republican Party chairman Chuck Payne filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in federal court in Rome, listing $8,420 in credit card debt and $3,390 in consumer bank loan debt.

Payne, who retired as a Juvenile Court probation officer earlier this year, claimed to have less than $100,000 in assets.

“Like many hardworking northwest Georgians, my family struggled greatly during the recession,” Payne said in a statement. “Our local economy impacts us directly, times were tough and we did what we had to do to get through it. I’m running for office to give a voice to those who often feel like they don’t have one.”

Payne, who finished first in the five-way special election on Dec. 13 with 36.1 percent of the vote, faces former Whitfield County Board of Commissioners member Debby Peppers in the runoff. Peppers finished second with 24.7 percent. Because no one gained a majority of the votes the winner will be decided by the runoff.

The special election is nonpartisan, but candidates were given the opportunity to list a party affiliation. Payne listed Republican. Peppers didn’t list a party affiliation but has said she plans to caucus with the Democratic Party if elected.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp called the special election after Gov. Nathan Deal appointed then state-Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, as a judge to the state Court of Appeals in November. Bethel was re-elected to a fourth term earlier in November.