Joe Turnham
Encyclopedia
Joe Turnham is a United States
politician who currently chairs the Alabama Democratic Party
.
, and he is the son of Pete Turnham, a retired educator and a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives
.
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.
Joe is an accomplished consultant and business development specialist who works with companies and organizations all over the world.
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.
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. Five newspapers 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
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.
In 2005, Turnham was again elected Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party filling the term of Redding Pitt who had resigned.
Turnham was unopposed for re-election to a full term as party chair. On January 20, 2007 he was unanimously re-elected by the State Democratic Executive Committee to a term that runs through 2011.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Democrats for Life of America
.
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 also appeared on several nationally-syndicated programs including the Oliver North Show. Most recently he founded the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters (AlaLEAVs) as a political arm for Alabama's environmental movement.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who currently chairs the Alabama Democratic Party
Alabama Democratic Party
The Alabama Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Alabama. It is chaired by Judge Mark Kennedy. The Executive Director is Bradley Davidson....
.
Family and education
Turnham and his family reside in AuburnAuburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
, and he is the son of Pete Turnham, a retired educator and a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
.
He attended Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, but transferred to and later graduated from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in 1981 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...
degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation he joined "Alabama Contract Sales, Incorporated," the family business.
Joe is an accomplished consultant and business development specialist who works with companies and organizations all over the world.
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 a founding board member of Land Trust of East Alabama, board member of the Chattowah Alabama Land Trust, Vice-Chair of Redeem the Vote and board member of Sigma NuSigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
House Corporation.
Turnham has participated as a lay missioner to Venezuela and in various leadership capacities in Trinity United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
in Opelika
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
. 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 PartyAlabama Democratic Party
The Alabama Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Alabama. It is chaired by Judge Mark Kennedy. The Executive Director is Bradley Davidson....
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
Bob Riley
Bob Riley may refer to:* Bob Riley, 52nd Governor of Alabama* Bob C. Riley, acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975* Bob Riley , sports car designer and founder of Riley Technologies...
. Turnham lost the race with 42% of all votes cast. Five newspapers 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
Mike D. Rogers
Michael Dennis "Mike" Rogers , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...
. 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
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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.
In 2005, Turnham was again elected Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party filling the term of Redding Pitt who had resigned.
Turnham was unopposed for re-election to a full term as party chair. On January 20, 2007 he was unanimously re-elected by the State Democratic Executive Committee to a term that runs through 2011.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America is an advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left, primarily the Democratic Party, into taking a pro-life position. Usually this involves political opposition to abortion, but the DFLA also opposes capital punishment and euthanasia...
.
Media and party recognition
For 31 months he was a member of the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. 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 also appeared on several nationally-syndicated programs including the Oliver North Show. Most recently he founded the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters (AlaLEAVs) as a political arm for Alabama's environmental movement.