Joe Turnham
Ethics should never become a partisan issue
Lest anyone be misled, Alabama history clearly shows that the creation, funding, improvement and strengthening of the Alabama Ethics Law and the Alabama Ethics Commission, as well as the creation of the Fair Campaign Practices Act, were the handiwork of Alabama Democrats.
In the post-Nixon Watergate period of the 1970s, Democratic Gov. George Wallace and the Alabama Democratic Legislature created the state's first ethics law and commission. In 1992, current Democratic Speaker Seth Hammett, then serving as a young state representative, sponsored a complete rewrite of the original Alabama ethics law. The ensuing legislation Speaker Hammett championed became today's ethics law and for its time, it gave Alabama one of our nation's strongest ethics laws.
Today however, more needs to be done to strengthen and update our law, and subpoena power is a needed instrument which I support.
Continue reading "Ethics should never become a partisan issue"
Education, General Fund budgets highlight session
The 2009 regular session of the Alabama Legislature was one of the more productive sessions of the past several years. The greatest success by far was the passage of the Educational and General Fund budgets, on time and without incurring deep cuts in government services and without layoffs of classroom teachers.
In our worst economic crisis in a generation, President Obama's stimulus and rescue package for state governments and education staved off disaster for our children in Alabama public schools and our health care system for children and seniors. The budgets passed with bipartisan support.
Continue reading "Education, General Fund budgets highlight session"
Biography
Joe Turnham is serving his third stint over a 13 year period as Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party. Joe has led a successful rebuilding of the party's image and infrastructure culminating with hugely successful election wins in 2006. Democrats in Alabama have built on their successful domination of county courthouse politics and successfully defended their super majority in the Alabama Legislature in all while winning 5 statewide races in 2006. Joe's leadership has helped democrats win 5 of 6 special elections for State House races in the last 36 months.
Joe has served his local community and church in a variety of leadership roles over his 25 years of professional service. From lay missions to numerous board memberships, Joe has been an integral part of dozens of organizations over two decades. Joe was a founding director of the state's environmental lobby, Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters. Today that organization is known as Conservation Alabama.
Joe was the Democratic Nominee for the United States Congress in 1998 and 2002. Making his first ever run for public office in 1998 against popular incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Riley, Joe garnered a surprising 42% of the votes and in 2002 garnered 48.5% in one of America's closet races. Joe is a frequent guest columnist and on-air political commentator for state and national television programs including Fox and NBC's WSFA.
After working 18 years in a family business, Joe embarked on a successful venture as an organizational strategist and consultant. Joe's efforts have assisted a number of organizations, including humanitarian and environmental non-profits as well as Fortune 500 companies, build and expand their markets. Joe has traveled internationally on both business and humanitarian efforts to India, Africa and South America.
Joe has been married to his wife, Paula, for 19 years and they have two children, Abby 18 and Pete Matthew 12. Joe's father, ret. State Rep. Pete Turnham, was a beloved 40 year Member of the Alabama House. Joe is a member of the First Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama and is a substitute Sunday School Teacher. Joe enjoys reading, writing, long walks and helping others in need.
