Adam Putnam
| Adam Putnam | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 11th Florida Commissioner of Agriculture | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 |
|
| Governor | Rick Scott |
| Preceded by | Charles H. Bronson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 12th district |
|
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Charles Canady |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Ross |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1974 Bartow, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Melissa Putnam |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
Adam H. Putnam (born July 31, 1974) is an American politician who has been the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture since 2011. Previously he was the U.S. Representative for Florida's 12th congressional district from 2001 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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Early life, education and career [edit]
Putnam was born in Bartow, Florida. He graduated from Bartow High School and attended the University of Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in food and resource economics.
While at the University of Florida, Putnam was a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Putnam also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000.
U.S. House of Representatives [edit]
Committee assignments [edit]
Tenure [edit]
In February 2006, Putnam became a member of the House leadership, assuming the role of chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, the fifth-ranking Republican leadership position in the House. In November 2006, Putnam was elected by his colleagues as House Republican Conference Chairman, the third-highest ranking position.[1] Following House Republican losses in the 2008 general election, Putnam resigned his post as Conference Chairman.[2] In 2010 The Florida Independent reported that Putnam had earmarked $100,000 for an abscission chemical used in citrus harvesting that The Florida Independent said would benefit his family's citrus business.[3]
Putnam described himself as one of Congress's leading supporters of developmental education for children from low-income families and was the author of the Head Start Accountability Bill. Putnam was also the co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus.
He was the youngest member of Congress when he took office in 2001 at age 26, just one year after becoming constitutionally eligible. In 2005, Patrick McHenry, a year younger than Putnam and a Southern Republican, was elected to Congress. However, McHenry was 29 at his inauguration, meaning of all members of Congress at the time, Putnam had still taken office the earliest in his life. This distinction would hold until Putnam left the House in 2011.
Putnam is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.[4]
Gonzales' ouster [edit]
After the numerous calls by Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Putnam became the top Republican in either house to call for the ouster of former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. "For the good of the nation, I think it is time for fresh leadership at the Department of Justice," Putnam said.[5]
This move was met with surprise by many Republicans, who were remaining silent on the Gonzales issue. However, Putnam mentioned that there remained severe discontent within the GOP circle over Gonzales and as the Chairman of the House Republican Conference, he thought that it was important to send this message out.
Political campaigns [edit]
2010 [edit]
In February 2009, Putnam declared himself a candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture in the 2010 election and that he would complete his 5th term in Congress.[6] Putnam won the election over Democratic opponent Scott Maddox with 56% of the vote.
References [edit]
- ^ CNN.com Friday, November 17, 2006 Putnam gets No. 3 House GOP leadership post
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Chamlee, Virginia. "Florida representatives receive low marks from taxpayer watchdog group." The Florida Independent. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ^ Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers
- ^ Smith, Donna. "House Republican Leader Says Gonzales Should Go." Reuters. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
- ^ "Putnam to give up seat". The Politico. Associated Press. 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
External links [edit]
- Congressman Adam Putnam official U.S. House site
- Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Congressional profile at GovTrack
- Congressional profile at OpenCongress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Financial information (federal office) at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance (federal office) at LegiStorm.com
- Financial information (state office) at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
- Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
- Voting record at The Washington Post
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Opie's All Grown Up Now US News and World Report, December 3, 2006
- Opie? National Review, July 30, 2007
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles T. Canady |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 12th congressional district 2001–2011 |
Succeeded by Dennis Ross |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Shadegg Arizona |
Chairman of House Republican Policy Committee 2006–2007 |
Succeeded by Thad McCotter Michigan |
| Preceded by Deborah Pryce Ohio |
Chairman of House Republican Conference 2007–2009 |
Succeeded by Mike Pence Indiana |
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- University of Florida alumni
- 1974 births
- American Episcopalians
- Living people
- Members of the Florida House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida
- People from Bartow, Florida
- Florida Republicans
- State cabinet secretaries of Florida
- Florida Commissioners of Agriculture
- Bartow High School alumni
