Gary Eisen
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gary Eisen
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| alt =
| state_house = Michigan
| district = 81st
| term_start = January 1, 2019
| term_end = January 1, 2023
| predecessor = Dan Lauwers
| successor = Rachel Hood (redistricting)
| prior_term =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|2|1}}
| birth_place = St. Clair, Michigan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| birthname =
| citizenship =
| nationality =
| party = Independent (2010)
Republican
| spouse = Annie
| children =
| residence = St. Clair Township, Michigan
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| website = [http://www.gary-eisen.com/home Gary Eisen]
}}
Gary R. Eisen (born February 1, 1955) is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives.{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2018|title=Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2018|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}}
Early life
On February 1, 1955, Eisen was born in St. Clair, Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(gcfcrqragziq03205tq0zobh))/documents/2019-2020/michiganmanual/2019-MM-P0191-p0191.pdf |title=Ch. III - State Representative Gary Eisen and State Representative Brian K. Elder|publisher=Michigan Legislature |accessdate=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240701091552/https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(gcfcrqragziq03205tq0zobh))/documents/2019-2020/michiganmanual/2019-MM-P0191-p0191.pdf |archive-date=July 1, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Career
Eisen unsuccessfully ran as an independent in the 2010 Michigan House of Representatives election for the 81st district.{{cite web |URL=https://mielections.us/election/results/10GEN/ |title=2010 Michigan Election Results |publisher=Michigan Secretary of State |access-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20181109182424/https://mielections.us/election/results/10GEN/ |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=live}} He also ran for the 81st district in 2012, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Dan Lauwers.{{cite web |URL=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2012 |title=Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2012 |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140112235140/https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2012 |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}
Eisen owns a small business, Eisen Inc., that provides welding, fabricating and repair services. Eisen also teaches American Warrior Martial Arts classes.{{cite web |URL=http://gophouse.org/representatives/thumb/eisen/ |title=Gary Eisen's Bio |publisher=gophouse.org |access-date=November 12, 2019}} Eisen is a life member of the National Rifle Association of America.{{cite web |URL=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/128268/gary-eisen |title=Gary Eisen's Biography |publisher=Vote Smart |access-date=November 12, 2019}}
=Electoral College controversy=
On the morning of December 14, 2020, the day that Michigan's electors to the Electoral College were set to meet at the capital, Eisen claimed on WPHM Radio there would be a "Hail Mary" effort regarding a plan to prevent electors from casting a vote. When asked if he can assure the public that it will be a safe day in Lansing, and that nobody would get hurt, Eisen replied, "No. I don't know. Because what we're doing today is uncharted."{{cite web |title=December 14 Rep. Gary Eisen |url=https://www.wphm.net/episode/december-14-rep-gary-eisen/ |website=www.wphm.net |access-date=14 December 2020}}
Shortly after the interview, Michigan Republican House speaker Lee Chatfield and Speaker-Elect Jason Wentworth released a statement disavowing any threat of violence or intimidation. The two leaders also announced that Eisen would be removed from his committee assignments for the rest of the term.{{cite web |last1=Chatfield |first1=Lee |url=https://twitter.com/LeeChatfield/status/1338508918733955073 |title=Speaker of the Michigan House Lee Chatfield statement|website=twitter.com |access-date=14 December 2020}} Shortly after, Eisen clarified his comments, stating his intent was to "help prevent violence, not promote it."{{cite news |last1=Boucher |first1=Dave |title=Michigan House punishes GOP Rep. Gary Eisen for hinting at Electoral College disruption |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/12/14/gary-eisen-michigan-electoral-college-radio-interview/6537175002/ |access-date=15 December 2020 |agency=Detroit Free Press}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://gophouse.org/representatives/thumb/eisen/ Gary Eisen at gophouse.org]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box | title= Michigan Representatives
81st District | before= Dan Lauwers| | after=Incumbent| years=2019–present }}
{{s-end}}
{{Michigan House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisen, Gary}}
Category:Members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:Michigan independents