Parker Griffith

Infobox Congressional Candidate
honorific-prefix =
name = Parker Griffith
honorific-suffix =


imagesize = 150px
office=Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama, 5th district
state_senate2=Alabama
state2=Alabama
district2=7th
term2=2006 -
preceded2=
succeeded2=Incumbent
party=Democratic
date of birth=birth date and age|1942|08|06
place of birth=Shreveport, Louisiana
date of death=
place of death=
alma_mater=Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University Medical School
profession=retired oncologist and businessman
spouse=
residence=
religion=Episcopalian|

Parker Griffith is a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 7th District since 2006. His district includes parts of Madison County. He is currently a candidate for U.S. Representative from ushr|Alabama|5.

Senator Griffith was born August 6, 1942, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He received his medical degree from the Louisiana State University Medical School and served in residency at the University of Texas. He is a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, now retired, and a businessman. He resides in Huntsville and, along with his wife Virginia, has 5 children and ten grandchildren.

Griffith ran for Mayor of Huntsville, losing to popular three-term mayor Loretta Spencer in 2004. He then ran for the Alabama State Senate in 2006, defeating Cheryl Baswell Guthrie in a race where he carried 66% of the vote to Guthrie's 34% [Flashpoint Blog [http://www.flashpointblog.com/2008/05/20/the-numbers-dont-lie/] ] . In the State Senate, he has sponsored bills that promote research in biofuels, advancing health care and early education, and immigration reform.

2008 U.S. Congress campaign

On March 22 2008 Griffith announced that he would run for the open seat in ushr|Alabama|5. [Campbell, Steve. [http://www.al.com/politics/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1206177305142200.xml&coll=1 Griffith is running for Cramer's seat] Huntsville Times, 2008-04-10.] He won the June 2008 Democratic primary election with 90% of the vote, defeating physicist David Maker. The retiring nine-term incumbent Congressman Bud Cramer has endorsed Griffith. [Lowry, Bob. [http://www.al.com/politics/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1207818976109010.xml&coll=1 Bud Cramer says he is endorsing Parker Griffith] "Huntsville Times", April 10, 2008]

"CQ Politics" forecasts the race as 'No Clear Favorite', "The Cook Political Report" ranks it 'Democratic Toss Up', and "The Rothenberg Political Report" rates it 'Pure Toss-Up'. [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-AL-02 U.S. House, Alabama - 2nd District] "CQ Politics"] [ [http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive.php 2008 Competitive House Race Chart] "The Cook Political Report", August 30, 2008] [ [http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/07/2008-house-ratings_29.html 2008 House Ratings] "The Rothenberg Political Report", July 19, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senatebios/sd007.html Alabama State Senate - Senator Parker Griffith] official government website
* [http://www.griffithforcongress.com/ Parker Griffith for Congress] official campaign website
*"Follow the Money" - Parker Griffith
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=20062&c=423077 2006] campaign contributions
* [http://www.parkergriffithfamilyfoundation.org/ Parker Griffith Family Foundation]
*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Alabama/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/US_House/Congressional_District_5/Parker_Griffith_%5bD%5d/