| Ben Lewis Jones | |
|---|---|
| Ben Jones and the General Lee, taken outside his store "Cooter's Place" in Sperryville, Virginia in 1999 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district |
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| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Swindall |
| Succeeded by | John Linder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1941 Tarboro, North Carolina U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Actor |
Ben Lewis Jones (born August 30, 1941) is an American actor, politician, playwright and essayist, probably best known for his role as Cooter Davenport in The Dukes of Hazzard. Jones was elected to be a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and re-elected in 1990. He served for four years, until January 3, 1993.
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Jones is a 1959 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia and attended the University of North Carolina for four years. He is married to Alma Viator.[1] They have a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Walker. Jones is a long time friend of Cincinnati Reds announcer Marty Brennaman.
Since the 1990s, Jones has run a chain of "Cooter's museums" across the US, dedicated to The Dukes of Hazzard. He also organized the annual "Dukefest" gathering.
Following the end of The Dukes of Hazzard, Jones entered the political arena as a Democrat. In 1986, he ran unsuccessfully against Pat Swindall for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from Georgia, but he polled 47% of the vote, more than expected. He ran against Swindall again in 1988, this time easily winning the seat. Jones was narrowly re-elected in 1990, but in 1992, he was defeated in the Democratic primary after redistricting moved his home into another district. In 1994, he ran against House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich, who would serve as Speaker of the House for four years after that election. Jones received 35% of the vote in the 1994 election. Jones has since returned to acting, as well as becoming a well-known writer — having penned many political essays, and one play.
In 1998, he broke away from most Democrats by asking President Bill Clinton to resign during his trial and impeachment. Jones is still active in the Democratic Party. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States House of Representatives representing Virginia against Republican incumbent Eric Cantor, thus becoming one of very few recent American politicians to seek elective office in more than one state.[2]
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| United States House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by Pat Swindall |
United States Representative for the 4th Congressional District of Georgia January 3, 1989–January 2, 1993 |
Succeeded by John Linder |