Tommy Irvin
Encyclopedia
Tommy Irvin served as Georgia
’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 until January 2011. He was elected to his 10th and final four-year term in November 2006
. Irvin did not seek re-election in 2010
. Gary Black
(R) succeeded Irvin as Commissioner of Agriculture after winning the 2010 election.
Irvin holds a record as the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture in the United States
, and the longest-serving statewide official in Georgia
. A Hall County, Georgia
native, Irvin was elected to his first public office as a member of the Habersham County
Board of Education in 1956. He later served as school board chairman and president of the Georgia School Boards Association.
A Democrat
, Irvin was elected to four terms in the Georgia General Assembly
as a Representative
from Habersham County, where he served on the House Agriculture, Education, and Appropriations Committees and chaired the House Industrial Relations Committee and the Governor's Conference on Education. He was the Governor’s Floor Leader and later served as Executive Secretary to the Governor.
In 1998, a portion of Georgia Highway 365 was named Tommy Irvin Parkway in his honor.
He was a delegate to the 2000
, 2004
, and 2008 Democratic National Convention
s.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 until January 2011. He was elected to his 10th and final four-year term in November 2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
. Irvin did not seek re-election in 2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
. Gary Black
Gary Black
Gary Black is the Agriculture Commissioner of the state of Georgia. A Republican, Black was elected in the November 2010 elections. Black defeated his Democratic opponent with 56% of the vote compared to 40.4%....
(R) succeeded Irvin as Commissioner of Agriculture after winning the 2010 election.
Irvin holds a record as the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the longest-serving statewide official in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. A Hall County, Georgia
Hall County, Georgia
Hall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In 2000, the population was 139,277. It is included in the Gainesville, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
native, Irvin was elected to his first public office as a member of the Habersham County
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
Board of Education in 1956. He later served as school board chairman and president of the Georgia School Boards Association.
A Democrat
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...
, Irvin was elected to four terms in the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
as a Representative
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
from Habersham County, where he served on the House Agriculture, Education, and Appropriations Committees and chaired the House Industrial Relations Committee and the Governor's Conference on Education. He was the Governor’s Floor Leader and later served as Executive Secretary to the Governor.
In 1998, a portion of Georgia Highway 365 was named Tommy Irvin Parkway in his honor.
He was a delegate to the 2000
2000 Democratic National Convention
The 2000 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention for the Democratic Party. The convention nominated Vice President Al Gore as its candidate for President and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman as its candidate for Vice President. The convention was held at...
, 2004
2004 Democratic National Convention
The 2004 Democratic National Convention convened from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, and nominated John Kerry and John Edwards as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, in the 2004...
, and 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
s.