Walter R. Tucker III

Walter R. Tucker III
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 37th district
In office January 3, 1993 – December 15, 1995
Preceded by	Mervyn M. Dymally
Succeeded by	Juanita Millender-McDonald
Mayor of Compton, California
In office 1991–1993
Preceded by	Walter R. Tucker, Jr.
Succeeded by	Omar Bradley
Personal details
Born	May 28, 1957 (1957-05-28) Compton, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Robin Marie Smith
Relations	Father: Walter R. Tucker, Jr. Mother: Martha Hinton Siblings: Keta Gale Tucker Kenneth N. Tucker Camille E. Tucker
Children	Walter Rayford Tucker IV Autumn Monet Tucker

Walter Rayford Tucker III (born May 28, 1957) is a former U.S. Democratic politician from California.

Tucker was born in Compton, California, and was scion to a political dynasty known as the "Kennedys of Compton." He is the son of Walter R. Tucker, Jr., a dentist who was mayor of Compton. He finished Compton Senior High School as class valedictorian and attended Princeton University 1974-1976, then the University of Southern California 1976-1978. He graduated from the Georgetown University School of Law with a Juris Doctor, 1981; was admitted to the bar in 1984.

Tucker commenced the practice of law in Compton; deputy district attorney, Los Angeles County, 1984-1986. After his father died while still in office, the younger Tucker won a special election to replace him. He served from 1991 to 1992, during the civil unrest in Los Angeles County spawned by the Rodney King verdict, until he was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat. Tucker defeated the daughter of the retiring Rep. Mervyn Dymally. His younger brother Kenneth Tucker ran in a special election to replace him, but was unsuccessful, losing by the slimmest of margins in a hotly contested battle. For the first time in more than two decades a Tucker did not hold local political office in the City of Compton.

In Congress, Tucker served on the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and the House Small Business Committee. Tucker was an ordained minister who was known to give the occasional Sunday morning sermon while visiting a church in his congressional district or even host bible studies in his Capitol office. He introduced legislation promoting Random Acts of Kindness, opposed passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), fought to save the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and worked to ensure the successful development of the Alameda Corridor Project. He also worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to secure federal funding to repair the long neglected Compton Creek, thus eliminating the possibility of costly flood damage to the homes and property on either side of the waterway.

Tucker resigned from Congress on December 15, 1995, due to scandals involving accepting and demanding bribes while mayor of Compton. Tucker was sentenced to 27 months in prison in 1996 for extortion and tax evasion.

Tucker is currently the pastor of a church in the Chicago area. He is married to Robin Marie and has two children, Walter Rayford IV and Autumn.

See also

• List of California public officials charged with crimes

External links

• Walter R. Tucker III at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Political offices
Preceded by Walter R. Tucker, Jr.	Mayor of Compton, California 1991–1992	Succeeded by Omar Bradley
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Al McCandless	United States Representative for the 37th Congressional District of California 1993–1995	Succeeded by Juanita Millender-McDonald