Joe Turnham

Background

Turnham and his family reside in Auburn, and he is the son of Pete Turnham, a retired educator and a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Education

He attended Samford University in Birmingham, but transferred to and later graduated from Auburn University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Career

Upon graduation he joined "Alabama Contract Sales, Incorporated," the family business. Turnham has served on civic boards and has been active in church. While President of the Auburn Kiwanis Club he was named Kiwanian of the Year.

He also served in the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County.

Joe was also the local Lee County Democratic Club President and the Lee County Democratic Party Chairman. As one of the youngest people to ever serve in the position, Turnham was elected Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party in October 1995 and served through most of 1998.

In his first bid for elected public office in 1998, Turnham was Democratic Nominee for the 3rd District"s United States. Congressional Seat against incumbent United States. Congressman and future Governor Bob Riley. Turnham lost the race with 42% of all votes cast.

Five newspapers endorsed him.

This campaign became especially negative as the Rogers campaign provided a phone number in a television ad and encouraged voters to "Call Joe Turnham and tell him he"s too liberal for Alabama". In 2005, Turnham was again elected Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party filling the term of Redding Pitt who had resigned. Turnham was unopposed for re-election to a full term as party chairman

On January 20, 2007 he was unanimously re-elected by the State Democratic Executive Committee to a term that runs through 2011.

He has been featured in state and national news publications including The National Journal and a January 1998 front page spread in the Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on several nationally syndicated programs including the Oliver North Show.

Most recently he founded the Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters (AlaLEAVs) as a political arm for Alabama"s environmental movement.

Achievements

• Joe Turnham has been listed as a noteworthy political organization administrator by Marquis Who's Who.

Politics

In 2002, Turnham was again the party nominee for the 3rd District"s United States. Congressional Seat running against Alabama politician Republican Mike Rogers.

Membership

Turnham is a founding board member of Land Trust of East Alabama, board member of the Chattowah Alabama Land Trust, Vice-Chair of Redeem the Vote and board member of Sigma Nu Fraternity House Corporation. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Democrats for Life of America. Foreign 31 months he was a member of the Democratic National Committee in Washington.