{{Short description|American politician (1963–2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ben Harbin | birth_name = Benjie Lewis Harbin | birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|10|28}} | birth_place = Lyons, Georgia, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|4|30|1963|10|28}} | death_place = Augusta, Georgia, U.S. | spouse = {{Marriage|Hope Whitfield|1989}} | children = 2{{Efn|1 deceased}} | alma_mater = Georgia Military College | profession = Lobbyist | party = Republican | office = Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | predecessor = Martha Moore | successor = Jodi Lott | term_end = July 7, 2015 | term_start = 1994 | office2 = Chair of the Richmond County Republican Party | term_start2 = 1990 | term_end2 = 1991 | term_end3 = 1994 | term_start3 = 1993 | image = File:Harbin acknowledges Columbia County YCA grads (5547694664) (cropped).jpg | caption = Harbin in 2011 }}
'''Benjie Lewis Harbin''' (October 28, 1963 – April 30, 2025) was an American lobbyist and politician of the Republican Party who was involved in Georgian politics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baruchman |first=Michelle |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Former Augusta lawmaker remembered as quick-witted and honorable |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/former-georgia-state-rep-ben-l-harbin-of-augusta-found-dead/DJ52LLWPTNDNRPAZ46H2UBYTVM/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |work=The Atlanta Journal–Constitution |issn=1539-7459}}</ref>
==Life and career== Harbin was born in Lyons, Georgia on October 28, 1963.<ref name=":0" /> He received an associate of science degree in business administration from Georgia Military College.<ref name=":0" /> Harbin was the chair of the Republican Party in Richmond County from 1990 until 1991 and again from 1993 until 1994.<ref name=":1" /> He succeeded Martha Moore to represent District 113 of the Georgia House of Representatives, which represents Columbia County. He served on the house from 1994 until July 7, 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hotchkiss |first=Joe |date=May 2, 2025 |title='One of the good guys': Colleagues remember life, career of Ben Harbin |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/2025/05/02/columbia-county-ben-harbin-remembered-as-caring-dedicated-lawmaker-georgia-general-assembly/83384823007/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The Augusta Chronicle}}</ref> Following his resignation, Harbin became a lobbyist.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Steve |date=June 29, 2015 |title=Ben Harbin will leave Legislature to become lobbyist |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/politics/government/2015/06/29/ben-harbin-will-leave-legislature-become-lobbyist/14363423007/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The Augusta Chronicle}}</ref> He was succeeded by Jodi Lott.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Walter C. |date=February 21, 2016 |title=Lott finds her way in first days in House |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2016/02/22/lott-finds-her-way-first-days-house/14337199007/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The Augusta Chronicle}}</ref>
While on the Georgia House of Representatives, Harbin was the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations from 2005 until 2011.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Beau |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Ben Harbin obituary: Longtime Georgia lawmaker found dead in Augusta |url=https://pro.stateaffairs.com/ga/politics/ben-harbin-obituary-georgia-general-assembly |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=State Affairs |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Walter C. |date=February 15, 2013 |title=Columbia County's Harbin to chair House committee |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/politics/government/2013/02/15/columbia-countys-harbin-chair-house-committee/14464568007/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The Augusta Chronicle}}</ref> His other chairmanships include vice-chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, chair of Subcommittee on Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications and chair of Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax.<ref name=":3" /> Harbin endorsed Mitt Romney at the 2012 Republican Primary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Romney Campaign Press Release – Mitt Romney Announces Support of Georgia Elected Officials and Leaders |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/romney-campaign-press-release-mitt-romney-announces-support-georgia-elected-officials-and |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The American Presidency Project}}</ref>
Harbin was charged with reckless driving in October 2008, for which he was fined $1,000 and sentenced to perform 100 hours of community service. He had been charged with driving under the influence in May 2007 and had faced additional charges of striking a fixed object and failure to maintain lane, which were dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2008 |title=Rep. Harbin fined $1,000 for reckless driving |url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/almID/1202551730914/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=Daily Report Online}}</ref>
Harbin married Hope Whitfield in 1989, with whom he had two children.<ref name=":0" /> His daughter, Caitlin, died in 2023.<ref name=":2" /> Harbin died at a hotel in Augusta, Georgia on April 30, 2025, at the age of 61.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Legoas |first=Miguel |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Former Georgia representative found dead at Augusta hotel. Here's what we know |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2025/05/01/former-georgia-rep-ben-harbin-found-dead-at-augusta-hotel/83384327007/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=The Augusta Chronicle}}</ref> His death is considered as being natural with no suspicion of foul play.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Raby |first=Dan |date=May 2, 2025 |title=Former Georgia state Rep. Ben Harbin found dead at 61 |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/former-georgia-state-rep-ben-harbin-dead-augusta |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=WAGA-TV}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==External links== * {{Ballotpedia|Ben_Harbin|Ben Harbin}} * [https://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/harbinBen.pdf Rep. Ben Harbin (R-122) Biography] (PDF) – Georgia House of Representatives * [https://www.bakerlaw.com/professionals/ben-l-harbin/ Ben L. Harbin] at BakerHostetler's website * [https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/189951/Ben_Harbin.html Former State Rep. Ben Harbin – Biography], LegiStorm * [https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/7892/ben-harbin Ben Harbin's Biography], Vote Smart
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbin, Ben}} Category:1963 births Category:2025 deaths Category:People from Lyons, Georgia Category:Georgia Military College alumni Category:American lobbyists Category:Members of the Georgia House of Representatives Category:Republican Party members of the Georgia House of Representatives Category:Georgia (U.S. state) politicians convicted of crimes