Steve Raby
Encyclopedia
Stephen Walker "Steve" Raby (born 1954) is the former 2010 Democratic
nominee for U.S. Representative
for Alabama's 5th congressional district
.
and grew up in Harvest; where he still has a home on his family farm. He attended Sparkman High School
in Madison County. While in high school, he served as a United States Senate Page
for Senator John Sparkman
where he began his career in public service. He graduated from Auburn University
with a BS in Agricultural Economics, and an MS in Economics.
from 1984 until 1997, Raby worked on Northern Alabama issues such as Marshall Space Flight Center
and Redstone Arsenal
.
Returning to Alabama in 1997, Raby joined North Alabama-based Direct Communications while continuing his public service for four years as the Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Military Affairs, helping to develop a strategic plan for the state to grow military presence and increase contracting potential within Alabama. He is currently the President of Huntsville Direct Communications, which specializes in public relations, management of local issues, and counseling.
for the U.S. House (Alabama District 5), but was defeated by Brooks in the general election.
Raby announced his candidacy on February 9, 2010. He won the Democratic primary on June 1, 2010 against Taze Shepard, Mitchell Howie, and David Maker. By winning over 60% of the vote, no runoff was required. On August 4, Raby won the official endorsement from the Blue Dog Coalition, saying: "As I have stated through out the campaign, my first priority as a Congressman will be to focus on jobs and growing the economy. We must balance the federal budget for our Nation to rebound economically. The Coalition is dedicated to financial stability and national security, and I will join the Blue Dogs in this bipartisan common sense effort."
As of late September 2010, Raby had raised about 20% more campaign funds than his Republican opponent, Mo Brooks
.
On October 28, 2010, Raby gained the endorsement of the district's largest daily newspaper, The Huntsville Times
.
. They have two sons, Nathan and Keenan, in college. Raby is active with community service, including the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Tennessee Valley Corridor, the Association of the United States Army
, and the Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for 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 Alabama's 5th congressional district
Alabama's 5th congressional district
Alabama's 5th congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Jackson. It also includes parts of Morgan County.It is...
.
Early life and education
Raby was born in HuntsvilleHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
and grew up in Harvest; where he still has a home on his family farm. He attended Sparkman High School
Sparkman High School
Sparkman High School is a public high school in Harvest, Alabama, United States. The school was named after senator and former vice presidential nominee John Sparkman. Sparkman is one of the largest schools in Northern Alabama and serves students in grades 9-12. The school's mascot is a Senator....
in Madison County. While in high school, he served as a United States Senate Page
United States Senate Page
A United States Senate Page is a non-partisan federal employee serving the United States Senate in Washington, DC. Despite the non-partisan affiliation, Pages are typically divided to serve the party that appointed them.-Selection:In order to become a US Senate Page, one must first be nominated...
for Senator John Sparkman
John Sparkman
John Jackson Sparkman was an American politician from the state of Alabama. A conservative Southern Democrat, Sparkman served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from 1937 until 1979. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President as Adlai Stevenson's running mate in...
where he began his career in public service. He 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...
with a BS in Agricultural Economics, and an MS in Economics.
Business career
As a Legislative Aide and Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Howell HeflinHowell Heflin
Howell Thomas Heflin was a United States Senator from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
from 1984 until 1997, Raby worked on Northern Alabama issues such as Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
and Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
.
Returning to Alabama in 1997, Raby joined North Alabama-based Direct Communications while continuing his public service for four years as the Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Military Affairs, helping to develop a strategic plan for the state to grow military presence and increase contracting potential within Alabama. He is currently the President of Huntsville Direct Communications, which specializes in public relations, management of local issues, and counseling.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Raby ran against Republican nominee Mo BrooksMo Brooks
Morris Jackson "Mo" Brooks, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:Brooks was born in 1954 in Charleston, South Carolina,and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1963...
for the U.S. House (Alabama District 5), but was defeated by Brooks in the general election.
Raby announced his candidacy on February 9, 2010. He won the Democratic primary on June 1, 2010 against Taze Shepard, Mitchell Howie, and David Maker. By winning over 60% of the vote, no runoff was required. On August 4, Raby won the official endorsement from the Blue Dog Coalition, saying: "As I have stated through out the campaign, my first priority as a Congressman will be to focus on jobs and growing the economy. We must balance the federal budget for our Nation to rebound economically. The Coalition is dedicated to financial stability and national security, and I will join the Blue Dogs in this bipartisan common sense effort."
As of late September 2010, Raby had raised about 20% more campaign funds than his Republican opponent, Mo Brooks
Mo Brooks
Morris Jackson "Mo" Brooks, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:Brooks was born in 1954 in Charleston, South Carolina,and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1963...
.
On October 28, 2010, Raby gained the endorsement of the district's largest daily newspaper, The Huntsville Times
The Huntsville Times
The Huntsville Times is the daily morning newspaper published in Huntsville, Alabama, and also serves the surrounding areas of north Alabama's Tennessee Valley region. The Times formerly operated as an afternoon paper, but moved to mornings after The Huntsville News ceased publication...
.
Personal life
Steve and his wife, Denise, live in Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. They have two sons, Nathan and Keenan, in college. Raby is active with community service, including the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Tennessee Valley Corridor, the Association of the United States Army
Association of the United States Army
The Association of the United States Army is a private, non-profit organization that acts primarily as an advocacy group for the United States Army. Founded in 1950, it has 125 chapters worldwide. Membership is open to everyone, not just Army personnel, nor is membership mandatory for soldiers,...
, and the Veterans Memorial Foundation.
External links
- Steve Raby for Congress official campaign site
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Steve Raby at OurCampaigns.com