Jim Turner

A Representative from Texas; born in Fort Lewis, Pierce County, Wash., February 6, 1946; graduated from Crockett High School, Crockett, Tex; B.A., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1968; M.B.A., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1971; J.D., University of Texas, Austin, Tex., 1971; United States Army, 1970-1978; member of the Texas state house of representatives, 1981-1984; special counsel for legislative affairs and executive assistant to the governor of Texas, 1984-1985; mayor, Crockett, Tex., 1989-1991; member of the Texas state senate, 1991-1997; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997-January 3, 2005); not a candidate for reelection in 2004. Jim Turner, former Congressman, is a partner in the national security and public policy and legislative practices. Before joining the firm, Mr. Turner served four terms in the House of Representatives (1997-2004) on the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Government Reform, where he was a key player in Congress’ vigorous oversight of homeland security issues, the military, and the agencies under the jurisdiction of those committees. His two decades of experience as an elected official give him a unique understanding of the legislative process. Mr. Turner, an Army Veteran, served as ranking member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Terrorism Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, where he won praise from both parties for his leadership on critical issues affecting US security. In the House, Mr. Turner was a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of centrist Democrats who fought for fiscal responsibility. Mr. Turner served in state government as a Member of the Texas Senate (1991-1996), a Member of the Texas House of Representatives (1981-1984), and as Chief of Staff and Chief Legislative Liaison to Texas Governor Mark White (1985-1987). He also served as an appointee to the Texas State Ethics Commission and as mayor of his hometown. Following graduation from the University of Texas Law School, where he was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review, Mr. Turner was a law clerk for the Texas Supreme Court.