Jim Whitehead
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James "Jim" Whitehead (born 1942 in Augusta, Georgia) was a Republican member of the Georgia State Senate. He was narrowly defeated in a runoff election for the United States House of Representatives in Georgia's 10th congressional district's special election called to replace the late Representative Charlie Norwood.
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[edit] Personal life
Whitehead attended Richmond County public schools, and graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in 1960. As a standout athlete, he earned All-American honors as a football tackle. He also set the Academy track team record for the shot put.
Whitehead continued his athletic career as a Bulldog at the University of Georgia in Athens from 1960-1962 in football and track. He played as an offensive and defensive tackle with quarterback Fran Tarkenton and set a UGA shot put record which stood for six years.
Whitehead founded Jim Whitehead Tire Company in 1985, which has two locations in the Greater Augusta area. He is also President of Southeast Tire Group, Inc., a buying service for independent tire dealers.
In 1964, Whitehead married the former Peggy Ann Bond of DeKalb County. The couple lives in Evans. They have two sons and a daughter, all of whom are married.
[edit] Political career
In 1994, Whitehead was elected to the Columbia County Commission, where he served until 2002, including a term as chairman. He was first elected to the Georgia Senate in 2004, and was re-elected in 2006. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Vice Chairman of the Transportation Committee, a member of the Economic Development and Natural Resources Committees, and Deputy Whip for Senate Republicans.
Whitehead is a member of the board of directors of Doctors Hospital in Augusta, and an advisory board member of First Bank of Augusta. He has served as the chairman of the Augusta Red Cross, board member of the Georgia Tire Dealers Association, member of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, member of the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a member of the Pastor-Parrish Relations Committee of Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans.
[edit] U.S. Congress special election
Whitehead announced his candidacy for Georgia's 10th congressional district following the death of Representative Norwood. He campaigned as an opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants and has called for strict border security.
In the June 19, 2007 special election, Whitehead led with 44 percent of the vote, twice as much as his next two competitors. He needed fifty percent to win and avoid a runoff. In the special runoff election a month later, a majority of the voters in the district assumed Whitehead would win easily again and did not participate in the vote.[citation needed] His opponent was able to turn the Democratic vote to his side and win by a narrow margin.[citation needed] He avoided Athens debates and did everything to stoke the Augusta paranoia about a new medical school at the Old Navy School location.[citation needed] His jokes about wanting to bomb everything in Athens except the football team did not sit well with voters in Clarke and Oconee counties.[citation needed]
