Terry Clark Burton (born January 31, 1956) is an American politician. He is a Republican and former

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

, representing District 31. He also served as President Pro Tempore. He was arrested for drunk driving and did not file for reelection to the Senate.

Early life

Terry Clark Burton was born on January 31, 1956, in

Philadelphia, Mississippi Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County, Mississippi, Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,118 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Philadelphia is municipal corporation, i ...

Career

Burton serves as a Republican member of the

Mississippi State Senate The Mississippi State Senate is the upper house of the Mississippi Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The Senate, along with the Lower house, lower Mississippi House of Represen ...

, representing District 31, which includes parts of Lauderdale County, Newton County,

Scott County, Mississippi Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,990. Its county seat is Forest. The county is named for Abram M. Scott, the Governor of Mississippi from 1832 to 1833. Geography ...

. Since January 2016, he has also served as President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate. In February 2015, he proposed a bill to lower the

concealed carry Concealed carry, or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon (usually a sidearm such as a handgun), either in proximity to or on one's person or in public places in a manner that hides or conceals the weapon's pre ...

fees in Mississippi from $100 to $80. Burton is a

York Rite In Anglo-American Freemasonry, York Rite, sometimes referred to as the American Rite, is one of several Rites of Freemasonry. It is named after York, in Yorkshire, England, where the Rite was supposedly first practiced. A Rite is a series of ...

Mason Mason may refer to: Occupations * Mason, brick mason, or bricklayer, a worker who lays bricks to assist in brickwork, or who lays any combination of stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or similar pieces * Stone mason, a craftsman in the stone-cutti ...

and a

Shriner Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society. Founded in 1872 in New York City, it is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and has over 200 chapters ...

. On December 19, 2018, Burton was arrested for suspicion of

driving under the influence Driving under the influence (DUI) is the crime of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while one is impaired from doing so safely by the effect of either alcohol (drug), alcohol (see drunk driving) or some other drug, whether re ...

for the third time in less than 5 years. He stated he would remain as the Mississippi State Senate President Pro Tempore. However, he resigned from his role and stated he would retire at the end of the year.

Personal life

Burton is married to Darleen Allday, with whom he has two children. They reside in Newton, Mississippi. He is a member of the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

References

1956 births American Freemasons Living people Republican Party Mississippi state senators People from Philadelphia, Mississippi Presidents pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate 21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature {{Mississippi-politician-stub