Tim James (politician)

Tim James (born March 3, 1962)[1] is an American businessman and political candidate from Alabama. The son of former Alabama Governor Fob James, James is a toll road developer and contractor currently serving as the president of Tim James Inc., an infrastructure company.[2] He sought and lost the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Alabama twice, finishing third in the Republican primaries in both 2002 and 2010.[3] He is currently running for a third time in the 2022 election.[4]

Tim James
Personal details
Born (1962-03-03) March 3, 1962
Opelika, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Parent(s)Fob James (father)
Bobbie James (mother)
EducationAuburn University (BS)

Early life and education

James was born in Opelika, Alabama,[1] the son of Fob and Bobbie James.[5] He attended Baylor School in Tennessee, where he played high school football, and then Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he earned a degree in finance and was a running back on the Auburn Tigers football. While at Auburn University, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.[6][7]

Business

James has owned and operated asphalt and heavy construction businesses; with his father and brothers, James formed and operated the Escambia County Environmental Corp., an incineration company treating non-hazardous industrial waste, from 1986-1996.[1] James helped found the toll road business Baldwin County Bridge Co.[8] in 1996.[1] He was involved in the building of the Foley Beach Express in the 1990s.[9]

In 2004, Baldwin County Bridge Co., owner of the Foley Beach Express toll bridge, entered into an revenue sharing agreement with the City of Orange Beach, Alabama. In 2006, James sold the Baldwin County Bridge Company to the Australian Macquarie Group.[8]

In 2019, James founded Tim James Inc., a family-owned construction, development, infrastructure and toll road development company.[10] The company has worked on infrastructure projects in Bossier Parish, Louisiana,[11] Caddo Parish, Louisiana,[12] and Shelby County, Alabama, the latter of which is the site of the proposed Coosa River Express toll bridge.[13]

Political positions

The Washington Post has described him as a conservative Republican.[14]

James was an outspoken opponent of then-President Barack Obama's economic proposals while campaigning for governor in 2010. He stated during a campaign stop in Oxford that financial corporations, the auto industry, and insurance companies should not be bailed out by taxpayers but should file bankruptcy.[15] He also called for improvements to education, including higher pay for school administrators and more autonomy for principals and teachers.[15][16]

James opposes the legalization of gambling as a means to fund education;[7] in 2021, he accused Republican Party leadership of attempting to turn Alabama into the "Las Vegas of the South" with a recent state gambling bill.[16] James is pro-life and opposes public funding for abortions.[17] Despite the federal legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States in 2015, James stated in 2021 that he would push for banning same-sex marriage again if elected governor.[18]

During the 2017 special election for the U.S. Senate in Alabama, James endorsed eventual Republican nominee Roy Moore, whom he had previously ran against during his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.[19][20]

In 2021, James called transgender acceptance, critical race theory and yoga in gym class part of a "beast with three heads" that endangered children in the public school system. He supports the right to decline COVID-19 vaccines.[5]

Gubernatorial campaigns

2002 election

James ran for the Republican nomination for Alabama governor in 2002, but finished in last place in the Republican primary: Bob Riley received 73.5% of the vote, Steve Windom received 17.8%, and James received 8.6%.[21] He focused on economic issues during the campaign.[22]

2010 election
Tim James campaign sign, 2010

James's 2010 campaign was managed by Sandra Lucas, a former staffer of Governor Bob Riley.[23] James' campaign chairman was former U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan of Mobile. U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt served as an advisor to the campaign.[24]

In April 2010, James said that if elected governor, he would end multilingual testing for driver's licenses in Alabama in favor of English-only testing.[25] James' "we speak English" campaign commercial gained national attention.[14][26][27]

James ultimately came in third in the Republican primary, losing a runoff berth to second-place finisher (and eventual primary winner) Robert J. Bentley by 167 votes.[28] James launched a recount effort due to the thin margin, but ultimately conceded on June 21, 2010, after the results were confirmed.[29] Other candidates in the 2010 race included then-lawyer Bradley Byrne and future Governor Kay Ivey.[30]

2022 election

In December 2021, James filed paperwork with the Alabama Secretary of State to again run for governor in the 2022 Alabama gubernatorial election.[31] He officially announced his campaign on December 6, challenging incumbent Governor Kay Ivey. Regarding his reasons for entering the primary race, James cited a recent gas tax increase, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and mask mandates, among other events that have made conservative voters "anxious."[4]

Personal life

James lives in Greenville, Alabama, with his wife Angela.[1][2] The couple have three children: Fleming, Tim Jr., and Sarah.[32]

References
  1. Carlton, Bob (May 18, 2010). "Campaign 2010: Tim James says it's right time for him to be governor of Alabama (with videos)". AL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  2. Cason, Mike (September 15, 2021). "Tim James teases run for Alabama governor, lashes out over critical race theory, transgender acceptance, yoga". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  3. Lyman, Brian (September 15, 2021). "Tim James ponders another run for governor of Alabama". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. Chandler, Kim (December 6, 2021). "Alabama Gov. Ivey draws challengers in 2022 GOP primary". Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  5. Chandler, Kim (September 15, 2021). "Former candidate Tim James eyes possible challenge to Ivey". Associated Press. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. Exum, Roy (April 29, 2010). "Roy Exum: "This is Alabama". The Chattanoogan. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  7. Whitley, Brittany (February 14, 2010). "ELECTION 2010: The Governor's Race/Tim James". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  8. Dezember, Ryan; Glazer, Emily (November 20, 2013). "Drop in Traffic Takes Toll on Investors in Private Roads". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  9. Britt, Bill (February 12, 2020). "Developer Tim James proposes privately-funded toll road as "catalyst for economic growth"". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  10. Tinsley, Stacey (August 14, 2021). "Company to propose private toll bridge between Caddo, Bossier". Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  11. Swanson, Christa (November 19, 2021). "Bossier Parish Police Jury unanimously votes to authorize toll bridge project". Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  12. "Developer announces private road, bridge project in Caddo, Bossier". KTBS-TV. August 13, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  13. Harris, Brianna (January 8, 2020). "Proposed Coosa River Express toll bridge gets mixed reviews". Shelby County Reporter. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  14. Weigel, David (April 28, 2010). "Right Now - Tim James, superstar". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  15. Bell, Michael A. (June 2, 2009). "Governor candidate Tim James speaks in Oxford". The Anniston Star. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  16. Poor, Jeff (November 17, 2021). "Tim James gives GOP-led legislature 'D' on education, says leaders have made Alabama combo of California, Nevada, Colorado — 'They want to turn Alabama into the Las Vegas of the South'". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  17. "Tim James: An unhesitant conservative". John Locke Foundation. June 2, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. Lyman, Brian (December 6, 2021). "Tim James to seek Republican nomination for Alabama governor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  19. Cason, Mike (August 9, 2017). "Roy Moore on Senate endorsement: 'People are not voting for President Trump'". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  20. Bradner, Eric (September 26, 2017). "Bannon, Farage say Roy Moore can save Trump from himself". CNN. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. "2002 Election Information: Certified Primary Election Results - Republican Party". sos.alabama.gov. Secretary of State of Alabama. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  22. Stinson, Jonathan (April 17, 2010). "James says economy, jobs biggest issues". The Sand Mountain Reporter. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. "Tim James names former Riley staffer as campaign manager". AL.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  24. "Rep. Aderholt backing Tim James for Ala. governor". WVTM-TV. Associated Press. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. "Tim James responds to campaign ad controversy". WFSA-12. April 27, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  26. Archibald, John (May 2, 2010). "Archibald: Campaigning is so easy a caveman can do it". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  27. Ambinder, Marc (April 26, 2010). "'This Is Alabama. We Speak English'". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  28. "Bentley defeats James in primary recount". Shelby County Reporter. June 18, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  29. DeButts, Jimmy (June 21, 2010). "Tim James ends race for governor". Birmingham Business Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  30. Taylor, Jessica (March 31, 2010). "Ivey switching to lt. gov. race". Politico. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  31. Smith, Dylan (December 4, 2021). "Tim James files paperwork for gubernatorial effort with Secretary of State". Yellowhammer News. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  32. "Tim James visits Athens today to plan 2010 gubernatorial fundraiser". The News Courier. September 28, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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