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'''Benjamin Burras Rayburn, Jr.''', known as '''Benny Rayburn''' (December 23, 1944 – December 14, 2006), was from 1981 to 1992 the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[sheriff]] of [Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes of southeastern [[Louisiana]].. He was the only son of legendary Louisiana state Senator B. B. "Sixty Rayburn (1916-2008).​

'''Benjamin Burras Rayburn, Jr.''', known as '''Benny Rayburn''' (December 23, 1944 – December 14, 2006), was from 1981 to 1992 the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[sheriff]] of [Washington Parish, the easternmost of the Florida Parishes of southeastern [[Louisiana]].. He was the only son of legendary Louisiana state Senator B. B. "Sixty Rayburn (1916-2008).​

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Rayburn resided in Bogalusa, the largest city in Washington Parish. He won a special election in 1981 to complete the term of Sheriff  Robert Lyons, a former Bogalusa juvenile officer who was elected in December 1979.​

Rayburn resided in Bogalusa, the largest city in Washington Parish. He won a special election in 1981 to complete the term of Sheriff  Robert Lyons, a former Bogalusa juvenile officer who was elected in December 1979.​ Rayburn filled out the term of Lyons and was subsequently elected to a full term in 1983. In the 1987 contest for a second four-year term, he defeated three intra-party rivals to win the position outright with 10,366 votes (58.3 percent). Rayburn, Sr., on the same ballot for the state Senate, polled within Washington Parish 13,003 votes (76.8 percent), nearly 3,000 more than his son drew in the sheriff's race.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns in Washington Parish, 1987.</ref>

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In 1991, Rayburn was forced into a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana [[general election]] even though his opponent was a fellow Democrat, Duane Blair. Rayburn led with 7,425 votes (43.5 percent) to Blair's 5,093 (29.8 percent). [[Republican Party|Republican]] Johnnie M. Holcomb (born c. 1932) of Bogalusa, who polled 3,132 votes (18.4 percent), was among three other primary candidates eliminated in the October 19 nonpartisan blanket primary. In the November 16 general election, Blair upset Rayburn, 9,884 votes (51.4 percent) to 9,332 (48.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns for Washington Parish, 1991.</ref>

In 1991, Rayburn was forced into a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana [[general election]] even though his opponent was a fellow Democrat, Duane Blair. Rayburn led with 7,425 votes (43.5 percent) to Blair's 5,093 (29.8 percent). [[Republican Party|Republican]] Johnnie M. Holcomb (born c. 1932) of Bogalusa, who polled 3,132 votes (18.4 percent), was among three other primary candidates eliminated in the October 19 nonpartisan blanket primary. In the November 16 general election, Blair upset Rayburn, 9,884 votes (51.4 percent) to 9,332 (48.6 percent).​

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In 2003, Rayburn unsuccessfully sought election to the District 75 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, a position held by his father from 1948 to 1951. He finished third in the all-Democratic nonpartisan blanket primary with 1,959 votes (15.2 percent). The seat went to Harold L. Ritchie, who was reelected in 2007.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns for the State Legislature, October 2003.</ref>qals8u

In 2003, Rayburn unsuccessfully sought election to the District 75 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, a position held by his father from 1948 to 1951. He finished third in the all-Democratic nonpartisan blanket primary with 1,959 votes (15.2 percent). The seat went to Harold L. Ritchie, who was reelected in 2007.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns for the State Legislature, October 2003.</ref>qals8u