Adam Putnam
Encyclopedia
Adam H. Putnam is the current Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
and the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
. He graduated from Bartow High School
and attended the University of Florida
, graduating with a Bachelor of Science
in food and resource economics.
While at the University of Florida
, Putnam was a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho
fraternity. Putnam also served in the Florida House of Representatives
from 1996 to 2000.
, the fifth-ranking Republican leadership position in the House. In November 2006, Putnam was elected by his colleagues as House Republican Conference Chairman, the third-highest ranking position. Following House Republican losses in the 2008 general election, Putnam resigned his post as Conference Chairman. In 2010 The Florida Independent reported that Putnam had earmarked $100,000 for an abscission chemical used in citrus harvesting that The Florida Independent said would benefit his family's citrus business.
Putnam describes himself as one of Congress's leading supporters of developmental education for children from low-income families and is the author of the Head Start Accountability Bill. Putnam is also the co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.
He was the youngest member of Congress when he took office in 2001 at age 26, just one year after becoming constitutionally eligible. In 2005, Patrick McHenry, a year younger than Putnam and a Southern Republican, was elected to Congress. However, McHenry was 29 at his inauguration. Thus, Putnam's inauguration at 26 represents a minimum for the current members of Congress.
Putnam is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
(D-CA
), Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid
(D-NV
), Putnam became the top Republican in either House to call for the ouster of former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
. "For the good of the nation, I think it is time for fresh leadership at the Department of Justice
," Putnam said.
This move was met with surprise by many Republicans, who were remaining silent on the Gonzales issue. However, Putnam mentioned that there remained severe discontent within the GOP circle over Gonzales and as the Chairman of the House Republican Conference
, he thought that it was important to send this message out.
in the 2010 election and that he would complete his 5th term in Congress. Putnam won the election over Democratic opponent Scott Maddox with 56% of the vote.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the head of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . The position is elected by voters statewide and is one of four members in the Florida Cabinet...
and the former U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life, education and career
Putnam was born in Bartow, FloridaBartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
. He graduated from Bartow High School
Bartow High School
Bartow High School, formerly Summerlin Institute and Union Academy is the only high school located in Bartow, Florida. The school is also the location of the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High, a school which annually finishes in the top five in composite SAT scores in the United...
and attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in food and resource economics.
While at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Putnam was a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Gamma Rho is a social-professional fraternity in the United States, with 75 university chapters including chapter in Mindanao State University, Philippines...
fraternity. Putnam also served in the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 1996 to 2000.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Financial ServicesUnited States House Committee on Financial ServicesThe United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
- Subcommittee on Housing and Community OpportunityUnited States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community OpportunityThe U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services.-Jurisdiction:...
Tenure
In February 2006, Putnam became a member of the House leadership, assuming the role of chairman of the House Republican Policy CommitteeSteering and Policy Committee of the United States House of Representatives
In the United States House of Representatives, the House Democratic Caucus includes a Steering and Policy Committee. Its primary purpose is to assign fellow party members to other House committees, and it also advises party leaders on policy...
, the fifth-ranking Republican leadership position in the House. In November 2006, Putnam was elected by his colleagues as House Republican Conference Chairman, the third-highest ranking position. Following House Republican losses in the 2008 general election, Putnam resigned his post as Conference Chairman. In 2010 The Florida Independent reported that Putnam had earmarked $100,000 for an abscission chemical used in citrus harvesting that The Florida Independent said would benefit his family's citrus business.
Putnam describes himself as one of Congress's leading supporters of developmental education for children from low-income families and is the author of the Head Start Accountability Bill. Putnam is also the co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.
He was the youngest member of Congress when he took office in 2001 at age 26, just one year after becoming constitutionally eligible. In 2005, Patrick McHenry, a year younger than Putnam and a Southern Republican, was elected to Congress. However, McHenry was 29 at his inauguration. Thus, Putnam's inauguration at 26 represents a minimum for the current members of Congress.
Putnam is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Gonzales' ouster
After the numerous calls by Democrats, including Rep. Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
(D-CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
), Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
(D-NV
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
), Putnam became the top Republican in either House to call for the ouster of former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Alberto Gonzales
Alberto R. Gonzales was the 80th Attorney General of the United States. Gonzales was appointed to the post in February 2005 by President George W. Bush. Gonzales was the first Hispanic Attorney General in U.S. history and the highest-ranking Hispanic government official ever...
. "For the good of the nation, I think it is time for fresh leadership at the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
," Putnam said.
This move was met with surprise by many Republicans, who were remaining silent on the Gonzales issue. However, Putnam mentioned that there remained severe discontent within the GOP circle over Gonzales and as the Chairman of the House Republican Conference
Republican Conference Chairman of the United States House of Representatives
This is a list of Republican Conference Chairmen of the United States House of Representatives.-References:...
, he thought that it was important to send this message out.
2010
In February 2009, Putnam declared himself a candidate for Florida Commissioner of AgricultureFlorida Commissioner of Agriculture
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the head of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services . The position is elected by voters statewide and is one of four members in the Florida Cabinet...
in the 2010 election and that he would complete his 5th term in Congress. Putnam won the election over Democratic opponent Scott Maddox with 56% of the vote.
External links
- Congressman Adam Putnam official U.S. House site
- Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture official campaign site
- Opie's All Grown Up Now US News and World Report, December 3, 2006
- Opie? National ReviewNational ReviewNational Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
, July 30, 2007