Joe Turnham

Infobox_Politician


name = Joe Turnham
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birth_date = birth date|1959|10|28|mf=y
birth_place = Lee County, Alabama
residence = Auburn, Alabama
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office = Chairman, Alabama Democratic Party
term_start = October, 2005
term_end = January, 2007
predecessor = Charles Redding Pitt
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party = Democratic Party
religion = Methodist
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website = http://www.aladems.org
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Joe Turnham (born October 28 1959 in Lee County, Alabama) is a United States politician who currently chairs the Alabama Democratic Party.

Family and education

Turnham and his family reside in Auburn, Alabama, and he is the son of a retired educator and a former Alabama House of Representatives State Representative.

He attended Samford University in Birmingham, but transferred to and later graduated from Auburn University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation he joined "Alabama Contract Sales, Incorporated," the family business.

Community activism

Turnham has served on civic boards and has been active in church. While President of the Auburn Kiwanis Club he was named Kiwanian of the Year. He also served in the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County. Turnham is founding board member Land Trust of East Alabama, board member of the Chattowah Alabama Land Trust, Vice-Chair of Redeem the Vote and board member of Sigma Nu Fraternity House Corporation.

Turnham has participated as a lay missioner to Venezuela and in various leadership capacities in Trinity United Methodist Church in Opelika. Joe was also the local Lee County Democratic Club President and the Lee County Democratic Party Chairman.

Political career

As one of the youngest people to ever serve in the position, Turnham was elected Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party in October 1995 and served through most of 1998.

In his first bid for elected public office in 1998, Turnham was Democratic Nominee for the 3rd District's U.S. Congressional Seat against incumbent U.S. Congressman and future Governor Bob Riley. Turnham lost the race with 42% of all votes cast. [ [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1998/98Stat.htm 1998 Election Statistics - Legislative Activities - Office of the Clerk ] ] Five newspapers had endorsed him.

In 2002, Turnham was again the party nominee for the 3rd District's U.S. Congressional Seat running against Alabama politician Republican Mike Rogers. This campaign became especially negative as the Rogers campaign provided a phone number in a television ad and encouraged voters to "Call Joe Turnham and tell him he's too liberal for Alabama". Neck and neck in the polls, a well timed visit from U.S. President George W. Bush [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021024-7.html Cached webpage from Federal Government website containing Bush's remarks at a rally for Mike Rogers at Auburn University in Alabama] ] campaigning on behalf of Rogers a week before the election was able to give Rogers the boost he needed to eventually win the election with only 50.31% of the vote. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=916 Cached webpage article with official election results] ]

In 2005, Turnham was again elected Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party filling the term of Redding Pitt who had resigned. [ [http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050828/turnham.shtml 404 Not Found ] ]

Turnham was unopposed for re-election to a full term as party chair. On January 20, 2007 he was unanimiously re-elected by the State Democratic Executive Committee to a term that runs through 2011. [Rawls, Phillip. "Worley wins Democratic post." "Montgomery Advertiser". 5 March 2007. [http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS02/701210337/0/NEWS] ]

He is also member of the Board of Directors of Democrats for Life of America. [ [http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=0 Democrats For Life of America ] ]

Media and party recognition

For 31 months he was as a member of the Democratic National Committee in Washington. He has been featured in state and national news publications including The "National Journal" and a January 1998 front page spread in the "Wall Street Journal". He has has also appeared on several nationally-syndicated programs including the "Oliver North Show". Most recently he founded of the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters. AlaLEAVs is a new political arm of Alabama's environmental movement. [ [http://www.alaleavs.org/about.asp AlaLEAVS ] ]

References