James Paulk Explained

James Paulk
State House:Alabama
District:31st
Term Start1:1963
Term End1:1971
Predecessor1:M.B. McLendon
Successor1:Thomas Reed
Birth Name:James Livingston Paulk
Birth Date:2 June 1920
Birth Place:Union Springs, Alabama, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Martha Elizabeth Ward
Children:2

James Livingston Paulk (June 2, 1920August 6, 2005) was an American politician who served in the Alabama House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party. He was active in local politics in Bullock County before his election to the state legislature. He served until his defeat by Thomas Reed, the first black person elected to the state legislature since Reconstruction. Paulk remained active in local politics until his death.

Early life

James Livingston Paulk was born in Union Springs, Alabama, on June 2, 1920, to Livingston and Bonnie Paulk. He married Martha Elizabeth Ward, with whom he had two children, on April 11, 1942.[1] [2] [3]

Career

Local politics

Paulk was appointed to the Bullock County Recreation Board in 1956, and elected to the Bullock County Board of Education in 1958.[4] [5] During his tenure on the county board of education he served as vice-chair.[6] Sam T. Hall Jr. was selected to replace Paulk on the county board of education after he resigned to join the state legislature.[7] Paulk served on the South Bullock Water and Fire Protection Authority after leaving the state legislature.[8] [9] [10]

State legislature

Paulk ran for a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in the 1962 election and defeated incumbent Representative M.B. McLendon for the Democratic nomination in the runoff primary.[11] [12] [13] Legislative reapportionment reduced the amount of seats in Bullock from two to one and L.O. Russell, who defeated incumbent Representative J.B. Powell, withdrew.[14] He won in the general election without opposition.[15] Paulk won the Democratic nomination for the 31st district against Thomas Reed and J.P. Guzman and won in the 1964 general election without opposition.[16] [17]

Paulk defeated Reed in the Democratic primary during the 1970 election. Reed challenged Paulk's victory, but a subcommittee of the State Democratic Executive Committee of the Alabama Democratic Party ruled in Paulk's favor.[18] [19] Reed appealed the subcommittee's decision, but the Democratic Executive Committee ruled in favor of Paulk.[20] Reed received the nomination of the National Democratic Party of Alabama and defeated Paulk in the general election. Reed and Fred Gray were the first black people elected to the Alabama state legislature since the end of Reconstruction.[21] [22]

During Paulk's tenure in the state house he served on the Agriculture, State Administration, Education, and Constitution and Elections committees.[23] [24] He supported George Wallace during his gubernatorial campaigns.[25]

Death

Paulk died on August 6, 2005.[26]

Notes and References

  1. News: August 24, 2005 . James Livingston Paulk . 3 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325221311/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121633860/union-springs-herald/ . March 25, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: April 16, 1942 . Miss Ward and Mr. Paulk Are Wed . 6 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325223914/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121635863/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 25, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: January 14, 1963 . Bullock . 37 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326184411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121685741/alabama-journal/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: October 11, 1956 . Three Members Named To Recreation Board . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325230506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121637742/union-springs-herald/ . March 25, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: May 7, 1958 . Fred Main Leads Race For Bullock Judge Job . 10 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325230636/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121637801/alabama-journal/ . March 25, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: November 12, 1959 . Board of Education Names New Officers . 5 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325230859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121637981/union-springs-herald/ . March 25, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: January 24, 1963 . Sam T. Hall, Jr. To Succeed Paulk On Board of Education . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326184237/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121687816/union-springs-herald/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: September 11, 1985 . Commission Makes Appointments . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328181030/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121819896/union-springs-herald/ . March 28, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: April 12, 1989 . Commission Makes Two Appointments . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328181021/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121819941/union-springs-herald/ . March 28, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: February 14, 2001 . Commission decisions of Feb. 12 . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328181030/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121819958/union-springs-herald/ . March 28, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: March 28, 1962 . Stiff Competition . 2 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326174712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121638760/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: May 3, 1962 . Powell Beat In Bullock House Race . 7 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326174816/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121638834/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: May 30, 1962 . Paulk wins in Bullock . 18 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326174921/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121638896/the-birmingham-news/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: August 5, 1962 . Russell Steps Aside; Vote In Bullock County Averted . 1 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326175254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121639082/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: September 7, 1962 . 27 are nominated; 24 remain busy in runoff Sept. 11th . 1 . Piedmont Journal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326175506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121639152/piedmont-journal/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: May 5, 1966 . Gray, Neville To Duel For State House Seat . 23 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326190507/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121689358/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: November 9, 1966 . Neville Wins By 9 To 1 For House . 6 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326190726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121689261/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: May 22, 1970 . Thomas Reed challenges race results . 11 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327204702/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121766295/birmingham-post-herald/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  19. News: July 1, 1970 . Committee Rules Paulk Is Winner . 1 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327204750/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121766602/alabama-journal/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: July 26, 1970 . Paulk, Amerson Win Demo Nod . 1 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327205608/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121767163/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: August 2, 1970 . NDPA Nominates Cashin For Governor of Alabama . 2 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327205831/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121767422/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: November 5, 1970 . Legislature to be integrated 1st time since Reconstruction . 1 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327210427/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121767865/birmingham-post-herald/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: January 9, 1963 . House committees named . 24 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326184114/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121687655/the-birmingham-news/ . March 26, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  24. News: January 11, 1967 . Full Membership Listed Of House, Senate Committees . 3 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327202711/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121765084/the-montgomery-advertiser/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  25. News: July 16, 1970 . Brabham Appeals Sub-Committee Ruling; Demo Post Given To Amerson . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327205113/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121766805/union-springs-herald/ . March 27, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  26. News: August 24, 2005 . Bonnie Plant officer dies . 1 . Union Springs Herald . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328181027/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121820008/union-springs-herald/ . March 28, 2023 . Newspapers.com.

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