Don Balfour
Don Balfour (b. May 3, 1957) is a former Republican member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 9 from 1993 to 2015. Balfour was suspended from his duties as Senator from November 2013 to January 2014. This stemmed from his September 2013 indictment on felony charges of making a false certificate, theft by taking and false statement and writing.[1][2] Balfour was acquitted of all charges in December 2013 and reinstated as Senator when the chamber convened its 2014 session.[3][4]
Biography
Balfour earned his B.S. from Bob Jones University. His professional experience includes working as an Executive for Waffle House Incorporated since 1980.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Balfour served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Reapportionment and Redistricting, Chair |
| • Health and Human Services, Vice Chair |
| • Appropriations |
| • Banking and Financial Institutions |
| • Finance |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Balfour served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Appropriations |
| • Health and Human Services |
| • Insurance and Labor |
| • Reapportionment and Redistricting |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Balfour served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Assignments |
| • Education and Youth |
| • Health and Human Services |
| • Rules |
Elections
2014
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Georgia State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with a runoff election taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Timothy Andrew Swiney was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau and P.K. Martin advanced past incumbent Donald K. Balfour in the Republican primary. Beaudreau faced Martin in a runoff election on July 22, 2014, which Martin won. Swiney was defeated by Martin in the general election.[5][6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  P.K. Martin |
66.9% | 36,764 | |
| Democratic | Timothy Swiney | 33.1% | 18,155 | |
| Total Votes | 54,919 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Michael A. Beaudreau |
38.2% | 5,548 |
| P.K. Martin |
33.1% | 4,810 |
| Don Balfour Incumbent | 28.6% | 4,157 |
| Total Votes | 14,515 | |
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
P.K. Martin |
53% | 7,917 |
| Michael A. Beaudreau | 47% | 7,028 |
| Total Votes | 14,945 | |
2012
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2012
Balfour ran in the 2012 election for Georgia State Senate District 9. Balfour defeated Steve Ramey and Travis Bowden in the Republican primary on July 31, 2012. Scott Drake ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10] Balfour won re-election in the general election.[11]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Don Balfour Incumbent |
61.8% | 46,464 | |
| Democratic | Scott Drake | 38.2% | 28,713 | |
| Total Votes | 75,177 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Don Balfour Incumbent |
62.8% | 14,083 |
| Steve Ramey | 19.6% | 4,404 |
| Travis Bowden | 17.6% | 3,951 |
| Total Votes | 22,438 | |
2010
- See also: Georgia State Senate elections, 2010
Balfour ran for re-election to the 9th District seat in 2010. Balfour defeated Rashid Malik (D) in the November 2 general election.[12]
| Georgia State Senate District 9 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Don Balfour Incumbent |
64.4% | 35,579 | |
| Democratic | Rashid Malik | 35.6% | 19,640 | |
| Total Votes | 55,219 | |||
He defeated Joe Anderson and Travis Bowden in the July 20th primary.[13]
| Georgia State Senate, District 9 Republican Primary, 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Don Balfour Incumbent |
64.5% | 11,155 |
| Joe Anderson | 23.9% | 4,125 |
| Travis Bowden | 11.7% | 2,015 |
| Total Votes | 17,295 | |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Balfour won re-election to the Georgia Senate from Georgia's 9th Senate district. Balfour ran unopposed in the general election, and he received 59,047 votes.[14] Balfour raised $421,085 for his campaign in 2008.[15]
| Georgia State Senate District 9 General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Don Balfour Incumbent |
100% | 59,047 | |
| Total Votes | 59,047 | |||
2006
Balfour won election to District 9 of the Georgia State Senate. He was unopposed in the general election on November 7, 2006.[16]
| Georgia State Senate District 9 General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Don Balfour Incumbent |
100% | 35,852 | |
| Total Votes | 35,852 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Balfour and his wife, Ginny, have one child.
Noteworthy events
Indictment
In September 2013, Balfour was indicted by a Fulton County grand jury on 18 counts surrounding the alleged misuse of his legislative expense account. He was suspended from his duties as Senator in November 2013 while awaiting trial. Balfour was acquitted of all charges in December 2013 and was reinstated to his position in the Georgia State Senate when the chamber convened for its 2014 session on January 13, 2014.[2][1][3][4]
Scorecards
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2014
In 2014, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 29.
|
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Don + Balfour + Georgia + Senate
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1992
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 upi.com, "Indicted Georgia state senator to be suspended," November 13, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ajc.com, "State Sen. Don Balfour indicted on 18 counts," September 27, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ajc.com, "Don Balfour is acquitted, but this story isn't over," December 19, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 politics.blog.ajc.com, "Don Balfour’s return to the state Senate," January 13, 2013
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official runoff election results," accessed August 29, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results," accessed November 16, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2010 Election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 24, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2008 Election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow The Money, "District 9 Georgia Senate candidate funds, 2008," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "November 7, 2006 General Election Results," accessed September 20, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Georgia State Senate - District 9 1993–2015 |
Succeeded by P.K. Martin (R) |
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