Jim Folsom, Jr.

Infobox Governor
name=James Elisha Folsom, Jr.

---

order=50^th
office=Governor of Alabama
term_start=April 22, 1993
term_end=January 16, 1995
lieutenant=
predecessor=H. Guy Hunt
successor=Fob James
birth_date=birth date and age | 1949|05|14
birth_place=Montgomery, Alabama
death_date=
death_place=
party=Democrat
spouse=Marsha Guthrie
profession=Business, Politician
religion=Episcopalian
order2= 26^th
office2= Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
term_start2= January 19, 1987
term_end2= April 22, 1993
governor2= H. Guy Hunt
predecessor2= Bill Baxley
successor2= Don Siegelman
order3= 30^th
office3= Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
term_start3= January 9, 2007
term_end3=
governor3= Bob Riley
predecessor3= Lucy Baxley
successor3= Incumbent (2011)

James Elisha Folsom, Jr. (born 14 May, 1949) is an American Democratic politician who was the governor of Alabama from 1993 to 1995. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, he is the son of legendary two-term Alabama Governor James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, Sr. Despite being well over six feet tall, he is popularly known as "Little Jim" as a result. In 1974, he graduated from Jacksonville State University, which he presently serves as a trustee. Folsom was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission in 1978 and re-elected in 1982. In 1980 he defeated incumbent Donald W. Stewart in the Democratic Senate primary, but narrowly lost the general election to Republican Jeremiah Denton. He served as Alabama lieutenant governor from 1987 to 1993. He assumed the governorship from H. Guy Hunt when Hunt was removed from office, convicted of state ethics law violations with regard to funds involved in his second inauguraral ceremonies.

Only weeks after Folsom assumed the office, state officials were approached by Mercedes-Benz about the possibility of locating its first manufacturing plant outside Germany in Alabama. Over the following months, Folsom led Alabama's efforts to recruit the facility, culminating in an October 1993 announcement that Alabama had beaten 30 other states for the coveted facility. The prestige of the Mercedes plant opened the door for future automotive plants to locate in the state. ["Mercedes Picks State for Plant," "The Huntsville Times", September 29, 1993, p. A1]

He ordered the removal of the Confederate flag from the state capitol to a memorial. ["Rebel Flag Could Have Cost State Mercedes Plant," "The Huntsville Times", October 2, 1993, p.A2]

In 1994, he ran for a full term. Despite his record he was narrowly defeated by former Governor Fob James. In 2006, Folsom reentered state politics, running again as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He defeated Republican Luther Strange in the general election in November.

Folsom endorsed former Governor of Vermont Howard Dean in 2004 Democratic presidential primaries [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=4921 Our Campaigns - Candidate - James E. "Jim" Folsom, Jr ] ] . In the 1988 primaries, he supported Al Gore.

Folsom is considered a potential candidate for Governor in 2010.

Folsom is married to the former Marsha Guthrie. They have two children. He is an Episcopalian.

Electoral history

Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives - AL 4th district, 1976
* Tom Bevill (Inc.) - 90,168 (80.87%)
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - 21,335 (19.13%)

Democratic primary for the United States Senate, 1980
* Donald W. Stewart (Inc.) - 222,540 (48.63%)
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - 163,196 (35.67%)
* Finis St. John - 51,260 (11.20%)
* Margaret E. Stewart - 20,582 (4.50%)

Democratic runoff for the United States Senate, 1980
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - 204,186 (50.60%)
* Donald W. Stewart - 199,365 (49.40%)

Alabama United States Senate election, 1980
* Jeremiah Denton (R) - 650,363 (50.15%)
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (D) - 610,175 (47.05%)

Democratic primary for Lt. Governor, 1986
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - 331,527 (37.72%)
* John Teague - 277,899 (31.62%)
* Hinton Mitchem - 203,112 (23.11%)
* Melba Till Allen - 66,439 (7.56%)

Democratic runoff for Lt. Governor, 1986
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - 517,724 (57.49%)
* John Teague - 382,836 (42.51

Election for Lieutenant Governor, 1986
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (D) - 726,111 (61.85%)
* Don McGriff (R) - 447,978 (38.16%)

Democratic primary for Lt. Governor, 1990
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (Inc.) - 510,814 (80.87%)
* William McKinley Branch - 120,861 (19.13%)

Election for Lieutenant Governor, 1990
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (D) (Inc.) - 768,988 (67.33%)
* Bob McKee (R) - 373,072 (32.67%)

Democratic primary for Governor, 1994
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (Inc.) - 380,227 (54.04%)
* Paul R. Hubbert - 285,554 (40.59%)
* Margaret E. Stewart - 24,254 (3.45%)
* Tom Hayden - 13,532 (1.92%)

Alabama gubernatorial election, 1994
* Fob James (R) - 604,926 (50.33%)
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (D) (Inc.) - 594,169 (49.43%)

Democratic primary for Lt. Governor, 2006
* Jim Folsom, Jr. - unopposed

Election for Lieutenant Governor, 2006
* Jim Folsom, Jr. (D) - 629,268 (50.61%)
* Luther Strange (R) - 610,982 (49.14%)
* Write-in candidates - 3,029 (0.24%)

Source: [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=4921]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ltgov.state.al.us/ Office of the Lt. Governor] official state site
* [http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senatebios/folsom_j.html Official Alabama Senate Biography]
* [http://www.aladems.org Alabama Democratic Party]
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=20062&c=423668 Follow the Money - Jim Folsom Jr] 2006 campaign contributions
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNIP0610 Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor James Folsom (AL)] profile
* [http://www.jimfolsomjr.com Jim Folsom for Lt. Governor] official campaign site
* [http://www.nndb.com/people/884/000120524/ NNDB profile]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before= Bill Baxley
title=Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
years=1987–1993
after=Don Siegelmansuccession box
before= H. Guy Hunt
title=Governor of Alabama
years=1993–1995
after=Fob Jamessuccession box
before= Lucy Baxley
title=Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
years=2007-"present"
after=Incumbentsuccession box
before= Donald W. Stewart
title=Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Alabama
(Class 3)
years=1980 (lost)
after=Richard Shelbysuccession box
before= Bill Baxley
title=Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
years=1986 (won), 1990 (won)
after=Don Siegelmansuccession box
before= Paul R. Hubbert
title=Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Alabama
years=1994 (lost)
after=Don Siegelmansuccession box
before= Lucy Baxley
title=Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
years=2006 (won)
after=TBD