Advertisement Sheriff: State Sen. Rick Gudex died of self-inflicted gunshot Gudex, 48, held Senate seat since 2013 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Sen Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) died Wednesday of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest, according to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Department.Sheriff Mylan Fink earlier said that foul play was not suspected but gave no other information about the cause. He said Gudex's death was being investigated in cooperation with the medical examiner's office.“I was deeply saddened to hear this morning of the passing of Senator Rick Gudex," Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a written statement. "Rick will be deeply missed by his Senate colleagues; our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”Gudex, 48, was not seeking re-election to the Senate seat he's held since 2013. Dan Feyen, a candidate to replace Gudex, said he was a "dedicated public servant who will be deeply missed."For the 2015-2016 session, Gudex served as chairman of the Economic Development & Commerce committee and vice chairman of the Workforce Development, Public Works & Military Affairs committees. He was also a member of the Universities & Technical Colleges Committee, the Joint Legislative Council and a board member of Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.Gudex is married with two children."Rick was a good man who served his community and state well, and he will be missed," Gov. Scott Walker said. "Our hearts and our prayers go out to his wife Kim and their two children during this difficult time."Whoever replaces Gudex will begin their term in January. Given that the seat will be vacant for less than three months, and the election is so close, Walker will not order a special election to fill the seat, his spokesman Tom Evenson said.Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said she was "shocked and saddened," at news of Gudex's death, while Republican Sen. Leah Vukmir, of Brookfield, said the state has suffered a "tremendous loss.""Rick was a true citizen legislator who came to work at the Capitol at a time when he felt his friends and neighbors needed him," Vukmir said. "The people of Fond du Lac and Winnebago counties always knew they had an advocate for them with Rick representing them in Madison."