Jim Turner (politician)

Jim Turner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Charles Wilson
Succeeded by	Ted Poe
Member of the Texas Senate from District 5 (Crockett)
In office 1991–1997
Preceded by	Kent Caperton
Succeeded by	Steve Ogden
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 15 (Crockett)
In office 1981–1984
Preceded by	Emmett H. Whitehead
Succeeded by	Mike McKinne
Personal details
Born	February 6, 1946 Fort Lewis, Washington
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	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.

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 and his partnership in the Austin office of Hughes & Luce 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. Believing he had 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 is currently a partner in the Public Policy and Legislative Practice Group.^[1]

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

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 5[2]
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

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 5[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Turner (Incumbent)	134,875	100.00
Majority			134,875	100.00
Turnout			134,875
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Jim Turner". Arnold & Porter LP. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
2. "1994 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-02.
3. "1992 General Election". Office of the Secretary of State (Texas). Retrieved 2007-01-02.

External links

• 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