Cam Ward (politician)

Cam Ward (born March 24, 1971) is a Republican member of the Alabama Senate.[1] He has represented District 14 since 2010.[2]

Cam Ward
Cam Ward in 2017
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
November 3, 2010
Preceded byHank Erwin
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
November 5, 2002 – November 3, 2010
Preceded byDave Thomas
Succeeded byApril Weaver
Personal details
Born (1971-03-24) March 24, 1971
Milton, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Julie Cain (Divorced 2015)
Lindsey Clements Ward (2016–present)
EducationTroy University (BA)
Samford University (JD)

Biography

Ward was born in Milton, Florida and graduated from Bradford County High School in Starke, Florida.[3] He received an undergraduate degree (international relations and political science) from Troy University and a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.[4] While at Troy, Ward served two terms as Student Government Association president.[4]

Ward is the Executive Director of the Industrial Development Board of Alabaster, Alabama.[5] He is chairman of the Autism Task Force of Alabama[6] and helped launch Autism Alabama, "an on-line library providing distance learning for teachers who have children on the autism spectrum."[7]

Career

Shortly after his daughter Riley was born in 2002, Ward was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 14, where he served two terms.[8]

In December 2010, Ward supported a piece of legislation granting Subpoena Power to the Alabama Ethics Commission.[9] The bill passed both chambers of the Alabama Legislature on December 16, 2010, and was signed into law by Governor Bob Riley.

In 2015, Ward was arrested for DUI and admitted to guilt.[10][11] He apologized [12] and entered a pre-trial diversion program for first-time offenders.[13] Shortly after, he announced an amicable divorce from his wife of 23 years, Julie Cain, on Facebook.[14]

In 2016, Ward was recognized by the Foundation for Government Accountability's with the "Friend of Government Accountability Award" for his efforts in healthcare reform.[15][16]

In 2017, the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research announced Senator Ward as its Chairman for 2017–2018.[17]

In May 2019, he voted to make abortion a crime at any stage in a pregnancy, with no exemptions for cases of rape or incest.[18]

Career timeline
  • Alabama State Senate– (2010–present)
  • Alabama House of Representatives– (2002–2010)
  • Executive Director, Alabaster Industrial Development Board– (2001–present)
  • District Director of Congressman Spencer Bachus– (1998–2001)
  • Assistant Alabama Secretary of State– (1998)
  • Deputy Attorney General, State Auditors Office– (1996–1998)
  • Alabama Republican Party, Political Staff Assistant– (1994–1996)
  • Office of Governor Guy Hunt, Legislative Intern– (1993)

Standing committees
  • Judiciary– Chairman
  • Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development– Vice-Chairman
  • Government Appropriations (former member)
  • Health and Human Services
  • Finance and Taxation General Fund
  • Transportation & Energy
  • Constitution Ethics & Elections
  • Confirmations
  • Shelby County Local Legislation– Chairman
  • Jefferson County Local Legislation (former member)

Oversight committees
  • Alabama Law Institute– President
  • New National Veterans Cemetery Joint Legislative Committee
  • Legislative Council
  • Joint Interim Committee on Open Meetings Legislation
  • Joint Legislative Prison Committee
  • Joint Reapportionment Committee
  • Joint Oversight of Public Accounts
  • Joint Oversight for Energy Policy– Chairman
  • Nuclear Energy Activities and Hazardous Chemical Toxic Waste Oversight Committee
  • Joint Oversight for State Parks
  • Joint Oversight for Prisons
  • Joint Prison Reform Task Force– Chairman
  • Judicial Building Authority Legislative Oversight Committee
  • Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force
  • Sentencing Commission
  • Alabama Autism Council– Chairman

National committees
  • Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research– Chairman
  • U.S./Canada Energy Council–Executive Committee
  • National Conference for State Legislators Energy, Transportation, Agriculture Committee– Chairman
  • Council of State Governments–Committee on Suggested Legislation– Board of Trustees
  • Faith & Justice Fellowship– State Leader
  • Justice Reinvestment Council
  • National Commission on Uniform State Laws
  • Southern States Energy Board
  • Southern Legislative Conference–Executive Committee

Party offices
  • Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee

Recognition
  • Autism Speaks– 2017 Legislator of the Year
  • Alabama League of Municipalities– Hometown Hero
  • Business Council of Alabama– 2016 Business Champion
  • Foundation for Government Accountability– 2016 Friend of Government Accountability Award
  • Business Council of Alabama– 2015 Business Champion
  • Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame– 2013 Statesman of the Year

References
  1. "Senator Cam Ward". The Alabama Legislature.
  2. "Sen. Cam Ward (R) | 14th District (Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, & Shelby Co.) – Shelby County Legislative Delegation Office". shelbylegislators.com. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  3. "The Honorable Cam Ward – Childrens Trust Fund". ctf.alabama.gov. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  4. "Troy University Magazine".
  5. "Industrial Development Board | Alabaster, AL". Cityofalabaster.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  6. Gray, Jeremy (December 21, 2008). "Daughter's autism gives Alabama lawmaker a cause". AL.com. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  7. "Autism Alabama site launched". September 3, 2009.
  8. "Meet Cam Ward". Senator Cam Ward, Republican, District 14. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  9. White, David (December 15, 2010). "Legislature passes bill giving Alabama Ethics Commission subpoena power". AL.com. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  10. "Sen. Cam Ward admits guilt in DUI charge". September 9, 2015.
  11. http://wiat.com/2015/09/09/cam-ward-pleads-guilty-to-dui-charge/
  12. "State Sen. Cam Ward apologizes after DUI arrest". al. July 2, 2015.
  13. "Sen. Cam Ward could see DUI prosecution dropped". al. September 9, 2015.
  14. Shelburne, Beth. "Senator Cam Ward and wife divorce". wbrc.com.
  15. "Cam Ward". Alabama Senate Republican Caucus. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  16. "Cam Ward – BirminghamWatch". birminghamwatch.org. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  17. "Ward elected chair of national energy research group | The Clanton Advertiser". clantonadvertiser.com. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  18. Durkin, Erin; Benwell, Max (May 15, 2019). "These 25 white men – all Republicans – just voted to ban abortion in Alabama". The Guardian.
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