Clarke County Tax Commissioner Mitch Schrader died Sunday after a long illness, the Athens Banner-Herald reports. He was 54.

Schrader went to work for former tax commissioner, now mayor Nancy Denson in 1987, working his way up to be her chief deputy. He took Denson's place when she ran for mayor in 2010. In 2015, he was named Georgia's tax commissioner of the year.

Schrader announced in March that he would not run for re-election for health reasons. His chief deputy, Toni Meadow, won the job in the May 24 Democratic primary.

Schrader is survived by his wife, Gail, Athens-Clarke County's supervisor of elections and voter registration, and their son, Evan.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, June 6 at Lord & Stephens funeral home, 4355 Lexington Road.