Jim Turner (politician)
Jim Turner | |
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Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee | |
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | |
Preceded by | Nancy Pelosi |
Succeeded by | Bennie Thompson |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd district | |
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2005 | |
Preceded by | Charlie Wilson |
Succeeded by | Ted Poe |
Member of the Texas Senate from the 5th district | |
In office 1991–1997 | |
Preceded by | Kent Caperton |
Succeeded by | Steve Ogden |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 15th district | |
In office 1981–1984 | |
Preceded by | Emmett Whitehead |
Succeeded by | Mike McKinne |
Personal details | |
Born |
Fort Lewis, Washington, U.S. | February 6, 1946
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Ginny Turner |
Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA, MBA, JD) |
James Turner (born February 6, 1946), American politician, was the Democratic representative for the Texas 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 until 2005.
Early life, education, and early career
Turner was born in Fort Lewis, Washington, but grew up in Crockett, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree in business, and simultaneously earned an MBA and a J.D., all from the University of Texas at Austin. Following graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army, serving 8 years (active and reserve), attaining the rank of Captain. His legal career in Texas included his own law practice in his hometown of Crockett, his partnership in the Austin office of Hughes & Luce LLP and serving as Of Counsel with Hance Scarborough, LLP.
State politics
Prior to being elected to Congress, Turner held several state and local offices. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984, mayor of Crockett, Texas from 1989 to 1991, and a member of the Texas Senate from 1991 to 1996. He succeeded Kent Caperton of Bryan in the Senate. Caperton did not seek reelection in 1990, and Turner defeated the Republican Lou Zaeske, also of Bryan, head of the Texas English-only movement. For two years, Turner was an Executive Assistant to Texas Governor Mark Wells White.
U.S. House of Representatives
After 2nd district congressman Charlie Wilson, who was known for his role in funding the resistance to Afghanistan's Communist government, decided not to run for a thirteenth term, Turner won the Democratic nomination to succeed him and was handily elected in November 1996. He was reelected three times with no substantive opposition. Congressman Turner was a member of the Armed Services Committee, and was the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A fiscally conservative Democrat, Turner co-chaired the Blue Dog Coalition and was a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
In 2003, Turner was one of the targets of a highly controversial redistricting engineered by Tom DeLay. The Texas Legislature dismantled his district, which covered a large portion of East Texas stretching from Lufkin to the suburbs of Houston, and split its territory among three districts. The largest portion was shifted to the 8th District, represented by Republican Kevin Brady, who had been elected the same year as Turner. While Turner had represented more of the new 8th than Brady, most of the 8th's vote was cast in heavily Republican Montgomery County, which has as many people as the rest of the district combined. His home in Crockett was thrown into the Fort Worth/Arlington-based 6th district, an even more Republican area represented by ten-term incumbent Joe Barton, who represented 96% of the population of the new district. Believing he stood no realistic chance of staying in Congress, Turner decided not to run for a fifth term in 2004.
Post-political career
He was briefly mentioned as a candidate for governor of Texas or the United States Senate seat of Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2006.
In 2005, Turner joined the Washington office of Arnold & Porter, LLP where he headed the Public Policy and Legislative Practice Group.[1] In 2017, he became associated with the Austin, Texas law firm of Hance Scarborough, LLP, where he is Of Counsel and works in their government relations practice group.
Personal life
He and his wife, Ginny, were married in 1970. They have two children, John Turner and Susan Turner Nold, who are both attorneys in Texas.
Election history
1994
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jim Turner (Incumbent) | 82,541 | 55.99 | -44.01 | |
Republican | Jerry T. Thornton | 64,875 | 44.01 | +44.01 | |
Majority | 17,666 | 11.98 | -88.02 | ||
Turnout | 147,416 | +9.30 | |||
Democratic hold |
1992
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jim Turner (Incumbent) | 134,875 | 100.00 | ||
Majority | 134,875 | 100.00 | |||
Turnout | 134,875 | ||||
Democratic hold |
References
- ↑ "Jim Turner". Arnold & Porter LP. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ↑ "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
- ↑ "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jim Turner (politician). |
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress:TURNER, Jim, (1946 - )
- Vote Smart: JAMES 'JIM' TURNER'S BIOGRAPHY
- Govtrack.us: Rep. James “Jim” Turner
- Notable Names Database: Jim Turner
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Texas House of Representatives | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Emmett Whitehead |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 15th district 1981–1984 |
Succeeded by Mike McKinne |
Texas Senate | ||
Preceded by Kent Caperton |
Member of the Texas Senate from the 5th district 1991–1997 |
Succeeded by Steve Ogden |
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
Preceded by Charlie Wilson |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd congressional district 1997–2005 |
Succeeded by Ted Poe |
Preceded by Nancy Pelosi |
Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Bennie Thompson |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Chris John |
Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Communications 2001–2003 Served alongside: Chris John (Administration), Allen Boyd (Policy) |
Succeeded by Baron Hill |
Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Administration 2003–2005 Served alongside: Baron Hill (Communications), Charles Stenholm (Policy) |
Succeeded by Jim Matheson |