Blaine Eaton

Blaine Eaton II
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the 79th district
In office
1996 – January 20, 2016
Succeeded by Mark Tullos
Personal details
Born Blaine H. Eaton II
(1967-09-11) September 11, 1967
Laurel, Mississippi, United States
Political party Democratic
Alma mater Mississippi State University

Blaine "Bo" Eaton II (born September 11, 1967) is an American politician, farmer, and logger.[1] He is a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 79th District, serving from 1996 to 2016. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[2][3]

Early life and education

Eaton was born in Taylorsville, Mississippi, United States.[1] He studied at Jones County Junior College and at Mississippi State University from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.[2]

Political career

Eaton was first elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1996. He held the same seat that his grandfather once did.[4]

In November 2015, the election for the 79th district seat resulted in a draw. Both Eaton and his opponent (the Republican Mark Tullos) received exactly 4,589 votes. As per state law, the two candidates drew straws to determine the winner. As Eaton drew the longer straw, he was declared the winner and was therefore re-elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. His win prevented the Republicans from achieving a three-fifths supermajority in the House.[4]

However, Eaton was unhappy with having won the election through a game of chance. In a statement made before the drawing of straws, he said; "It's wrong – philosophically, morally ... It's archaic, it's medieval, and it's wrong".[4] After winning, he said he would accept the result but would attempt to change the law that governs election ties.[4][5] Although Eaton drew the long straw, Tullos appealed the result to the Republican-controlled House, which decided to seat Tullos instead.[6]

Personal life

Eaton is married to Susanne (née Magee).[1] He is a member of a Southern Baptist church.[4]

Eaton is a Freemason and a member of the Taylorsville Lions Club. He is also a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Forestry Association, the National Rifle Association, and the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Blaine Eaton". Mississippi House of Representatives. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Blaine Eaton II's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.sos.ms.gov/Education-Publications/Documents/BlueBook/6-2014-House.pdf
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Fausset, Richard (November 20, 2015). "Democrat Wins Mississippi House Race After Drawing Straw". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mississippi state election settled by 'drawing straws'". BBC News. November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ "House unseats Rep. Bo Eaton". The Clarion Ledger. January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.


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