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[[Northwestern State University]]<br/>

[[Northwestern State University]]<br/>

[[Pepperdine University]]

[[Pepperdine University]]

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'''Henry Lee Burns''' (born March 2, 1947) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for District 9 in Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. He owns and operates the Wooden Spoon bakery in [[Bossier City]] and is a thoroughbred owner and breeder.<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93647|title=Representative Henry L. Burns|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref>

'''Henry Lee Burns''' (born March 2, 1947) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for District 9 in Bossier Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. He owns and operates the Wooden Spoon bakery in [[Bossier City]] and is a thoroughbred owner and breeder.<ref name=pvs>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=93647|title=Representative Henry L. Burns|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref>

Burns ran unsuccessfully in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 24, 2015, for the District 36 seat in the Louisiana State Senate vacated by the term-limited Republican Robert Roy Adley. Burns carried the backing of both the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the state [[AFL-CIO]].<ref name=forstatesenate>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/henry-burns-running-for-state-senate|title=Henry Burns running for state senate|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=September 4, 2015|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> He was defeated for the state Senate by the [[Moderate Republican]] [[Ryan Gatti]], a close friend of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].

Burns ran unsuccessfully in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 24, 2015, for the District 36 seat in the Louisiana State Senate vacated by the term-limited Republican [[Robert Adley (Louisiana politician)|Robert Roy Adley]]. Burns carried the backing of both the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the state [[AFL-CIO]].<ref name=forstatesenate>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/henry-burns-running-for-state-senate|title=Henry Burns running for state senate|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=September 4, 2015|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> He was defeated for the state Senate by the [[Moderate Republican]] [[Ryan Gatti]], a close friend of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].

   

   

==Background==

==Background==

Burns was commissioned on the steps of the [[U.S. Capitol]] as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army]] by then [[U.S. Representative]] [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. An explosive ordnance officer with specialty in nuclear weapons, Burns also trained Army Special Forces and [[United States Navy]] Seals in the defusing of bombs. He retired from the militarty at the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

Burns was commissioned on the steps of the [[U.S. Capitol]] as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army]] by then [[U.S. Representative]] [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. An explosive ordnance officer with specialty in nuclear weapons, Burns also trained Army Special Forces and [[United States Navy]] Seals in the defusing of bombs. He retired from the militarty at the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

   

   

From 1971 to 1974, he earned his military branch assignment at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in [[Maryland]] as an ordnance officer with the "Bomb Squad". He instructed joint service personnel, allied forces, [[NATO]] forces, foreign nationals, and [[FBI]] and [[CIA]] officers on military munitions, clandestine devices, embassy and [[U.S. President|presidential]] security, and special weapons. He received the Navy Commendation Medal. From 1974 to 1977, Burns transferred to [[Hawaii]] as a special weapons officer, served as a branch chief, and received the Army Commander Medal. From 1978 to 1979, he joined the United States Army Reserves in Livonia, [[Michigan]], where he served as company commander for a  [[prisoner of war]] camp. From 1979 to 1997, Burns served in the 4th Brigade, 95th Division and 4158th USAR School.<ref name=forstatesenate/>  

From 1971 to 1974, he earned his military branch assignment at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in [[Maryland]] as an ordnance officer with the "Bomb Squad". He instructed joint service personnel, allied forces, [[NATO]] forces, foreign nationals, and [[FBI]] and [[CIA]] officers on military munitions, clandestine devices, embassy and [[U.S. President|presidential]] security, and special weapons. He received the Navy Commendation Medal. From 1974 to 1977, Burns transferred to [[Hawaii]] as a special weapons officer, served as a branch chief, and received the Army Commander Medal. From 1978 to 1979, he joined the United States Army Reserves in Livonia, [[Michigan]], where he served as company commander for a  [[prisoner of war]] camp. From 1979 to 1997, Burns served in the 4th Brigade, 95th Division and 4158th USAR School.<ref name=forstatesenate/>  

   

   

Burns was activated in 1987 and 1989 to serve as the operations officer for Lone Ironman I and II, a test to verify readiness training conducted at Fort Polk near Leesville in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana. Burns received the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest peacetime medal for duty performance.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

Burns was activated in 1987 and 1989 to serve as the operations officer for Lone Ironman I and II, a test to verify readiness training conducted at Fort Polk near Leesville in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana. Burns received the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest peacetime medal for duty performance.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93647/henry-burns#.VVvh88stEuQ|title=Henry L. Burns's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|date=May 19, 2015}}</ref>

https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/93647/henry-burns#.VVvh88stEuQ|title=Henry L. Burns's Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|date=May 19, 2015}}</ref>

In the state Senate primary, Burns led a three-candidate field with 10,202 votes (40.3 percent). Ryan Gatti trailed with 8,649 votes (34.2 percent). The Demcorat Todd Hollenshead polled the critical 6,465 votes (25.5 percent).<ref name=octoberreturns/> In the November 21 runoff election, Burns was defeated by 326 votes, 13,698 (49l.4 percent) to Ryan Gatti's 14,023 votes (50.6 percent) to 13,698 (49.4 percent). Burns trailed in his native Webster Parish by 557 votes, 231 votesmore than that of his overall loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=Election Returns|date=November 21, 2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=February 17, 2018}}</ref>

In the state Senate primary, Burns led a three-candidate field with 10,202 votes (40.3 percent). Ryan Gatti trailed with 8,649 votes (34.2 percent). The Demcorat Todd Hollenshead polled the critical 6,465 votes (25.5 percent).<ref name=octoberreturns/> In the November 21 runoff election, Burns was defeated by 326 votes, 13,698 (49l.4 percent) to Ryan Gatti's 14,023 votes (50.6 percent) to 13,698 (49.4 percent). Burns trailed in his native Webster Parish by 557 votes, 231 votes more than that of his overall loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=Election Returns|date=November 21, 2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=February 17, 2018}}</ref>

With Burns running for the state Senate, two Republicans contested the primary election to succeed him in the House. To claim Burns' seat, his legislative aide, conservative Dodie Horton of Haughton, defeated Michael Ray "Mike" McHalffey (born March 1959)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3301687|title=Michael McHalffey, March 1959|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}</ref> of Benton, the Bossier parish seat of government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/candidates-qualified-in-statewide-elections/|title=Candidates Qualified in Statewide Elections|publisher=KEEL (AM)|accessdate=September 10, 2015|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}</ref> Horton polled 4,584 votes (63.8 percent) to McHalffey's 2,602 (36.2 percent).<ref name=octoberreturns>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10242015/10242015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=October 24, 2015}}</ref>

With Burns running for the state Senate, two Republicans contested the primary election to succeed him in the House. To claim Burns' seat, his legislative aide, conservative Dodie Horton of Haughton, defeated Michael Ray "Mike" McHalffey (born March 1959)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3301687|title=Michael McHalffey, March 1959|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}</ref> of Benton, the Bossier parish seat of government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/candidates-qualified-in-statewide-elections/|title=Candidates Qualified in Statewide Elections|publisher=KEEL (AM)|accessdate=September 10, 2015|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}</ref> Horton polled 4,584 votes (63.8 percent) to McHalffey's 2,602 (36.2 percent).<ref name=octoberreturns>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10242015/10242015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=October 24, 2015}}</ref>