Jim Folsom, Jr.
From Ballotpedia
James Elisha Folsom, Jr. (born May 14, 1949) is a Democratic politician and the current Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. He was previously elected to the position in 1987 and served until 1993, when he became governor after H. Guy Hunt was convicted of state ethics law violations and removed from office.
Only weeks after Folsom assumed the governorship, state officials were approached by Mercedes-Benz about the possibility of locating its first manufacturing plant outside Germany in Alabama. Over the following months, Folsom led Alabama's efforts to recruit the facility, culminating in an October 1993 announcement that Alabama had beaten 30 other states for the coveted facility. The prestige of the Mercedes plant opened the door for future automotive plants to locate in the state.[1]
In 1994, he ran for a full term as governor but was narrowly defeated by former Governor Fob James. In 2006, Folsom re-entered state politics, running again as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He defeated Republican Luther Strange in the general election in November. Folsom is considered a potential candidate for governor in 2010.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Folsom is the son of legendary two-term Alabama Governor James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, Sr. Despite being well over six feet tall, Folsom, Jr. is popularly known as "Little Jim" as a result. In 1974, he graduated from Jacksonville State University, where he presently serves as a trustee. Folsom was elected to the Alabama Public Service Commission in 1978 and re-elected in 1982. In 1980 he defeated incumbent Donald W. Stewart in the Democratic Senate primary, but narrowly lost the general election to Republican Jeremiah Denton.
Folsom is married to the former Marsha Guthrie. They have two children.
Contact information
11 South Union Street, Suite 725
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7900
Fax: (334) 242-4661
See also
External links
- Office of the Lt. Governor official state site
- Official Alabama Senate Biography
- Alabama Democratic Party
- Follow the Money
- Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor James Folsom (AL) profile
- Jim Folsom for Lt. Governor official campaign site
- NNDB profile
References
- ↑ "Mercedes Picks State for Plant," The Huntsville Times, September 29, 1993, p. A1
Portions of this article were adapted from Wikipedia.
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