Jim Turner (politician)

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Jim Turner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd district
In office 1997–2005
Preceded by	Charles Wilson
Succeeded by	Ted Poe
Born	February 6, 1946 (1946-02-06) (age 62)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ginny Turner

James "Jim" 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.

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 enlisted in the army, and practiced law after eight years of military life.

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 State Senate from 1991 to 1996. He also served as aide to Texas Governor Mark White for two years.

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 an eleventh 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 minority member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A fiscally conservative Democrat, Turner was a member of both the Blue Dog Coalition and 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. 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. Believing he had no realistic chance of staying in Congress, Turner decided not to run for a fifth term in 2004. He was briefly mentioned as a candidate for governor of Texas or the United States Senate seat of Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2006.

He has two children, John and Susan, both attorneys, with his wife Ginny.

Contents 1 Election history 1.1 1994 1.2 1992 2 References

[edit] Election history

[edit] 1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 5[1]
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

[edit] 1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 5[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Turner (Incumbent)	134,875	100.00
Majority			134,875	100.00
Turnout			134,875
	Democratic hold

[edit] References

Preceded by Emmett H. Whitehead	Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 15 (Crockett) 1981–1984	Succeeded by Mike McKinney
Preceded by Kent A. Caperton	Texas State Senator from District 5 (Crockett) 1991–1997	Succeeded by Steve Ogden
Preceded by Charles Wilson	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd congressional district 1997–2005	Succeeded by Ted Poe