James Paulk

Member of the Alabama House of Representatives

James Paulk

Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
1963–1971
Preceded by| M.B. McLendon
Succeeded by| Thomas Reed
Personal details
Born|

James Livingston Paulk

(1920-06-02)June 2, 1920
Union Springs, Alabama, U.S.
Died| August 6, 2005(2005-08-06) (aged 85)
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Martha Elizabeth Ward
Children| 2

James Livingston Paulk (June 2, 1920 – August 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Local politics

[edit]

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][11]

### State legislature

[edit]

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.[12][13][14] 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.[15] He won in the general election without opposition.[16] 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.[17][18]

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.[19][20] Reed appealed the subcommittee's decision, but the Democratic Executive Committee ruled in favor of Paulk.[21] 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.[22][23]

During Paulk's tenure in the state house he served on the Agriculture, State Administration, Education, and Constitution and Elections committees.[24][25] He supported George Wallace during his gubernatorial campaigns.[26]

## Death

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Paulk died on August 6, 2005.[1][11]

## Electoral history

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1962 Alabama House of Representatives Bullock County district Democratic primary[13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | M.B. McLendon (incumbent)  | 1,041  | 56.24%
| Democratic | James Paulk  | 558  | 30.15%
| Democratic | Paul Adams  | 252  | 13.61%
Total votes | 1,851  | 100.00%
1962 Alabama House of Representatives Bullock County district Democratic runoff[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | James Paulk  | 1,446  | 59.85%
| Democratic | M.B. McLendon (incumbent)  | 970  | 40.15%
Total votes | 2,416  | 100.00%
1970 Alabama House of Representatives 31st district Democratic primary[19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | James Paulk (incumbent)  | 8,587  | 51.50%
| Democratic | Thomas Reed  | 8,088  | 48.50%
Total votes | 16,675  | 100.00%
1970 Alabama House of Representatives 31st district election[27] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| NDPA | Thomas Reed  | 9,436  | 52.25%
| Democratic | James Paulk (incumbent)  | 8,624  | 47.75%
Total votes | 18,060  | 100.00%

## References

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1. ^ a b "James Livingston Paulk". Union Springs Herald. August 24, 2005. p. 3\. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Miss Ward and Mr. Paulk Are Wed". Montgomery Advertiser. April 16, 1942. p. 6\. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Bullock". Alabama Journal. January 14, 1963. p. 37\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Three Members Named To Recreation Board". Union Springs Herald. October 11, 1956. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Fred Main Leads Race For Bullock Judge Job". Alabama Journal. May 7, 1958. p. 10\. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Board of Education Names New Officers". Union Springs Herald. November 12, 1959. p. 5\. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Sam T. Hall, Jr. To Succeed Paulk On Board of Education". Union Springs Herald. January 24, 1963. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Commission Makes Appointments". Union Springs Herald. September 11, 1985. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Commission Makes Two Appointments". Union Springs Herald. April 12, 1989. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Commission decisions of Feb. 12". Union Springs Herald. February 14, 2001. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ a b "Bonnie Plant officer dies". Union Springs Herald. August 24, 2005. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Stiff Competition". Montgomery Advertiser. March 28, 1962. p. 2\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ a b "Powell Beat In Bullock House Race". Montgomery Advertiser. May 3, 1962. p. 7\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ a b "Paulk wins in Bullock". The Birmingham News. May 30, 1962. p. 18\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ "Russell Steps Aside; Vote In Bullock County Averted". Montgomery Advertiser. August 5, 1962. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ "27 are nominated; 24 remain busy in runoff Sept. 11th". Piedmont Journal. September 7, 1962. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
17. ^ "Gray, Neville To Duel For State House Seat". Montgomery Advertiser. May 5, 1966. p. 23\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ "Neville Wins By 9 To 1 For House". Montgomery Advertiser. November 9, 1966. p. 6\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ a b "Thomas Reed challenges race results". Birmingham Post-Herald. May 22, 1970. p. 11\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ "Committee Rules Paulk Is Winner". Alabama Journal. July 1, 1970. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ "Paulk, Amerson Win Demo Nod". Montgomery Advertiser. July 26, 1970. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ "NDPA Nominates Cashin For Governor of Alabama". Montgomery Advertiser. August 2, 1970. p. 2\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ "Legislature to be integrated 1st time since Reconstruction". Birmingham Post-Herald. November 5, 1970. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "House committees named". The Birmingham News. January 9, 1963. p. 24\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ "Full Membership Listed Of House, Senate Committees". Montgomery Advertiser. January 11, 1967. p. 3\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ "Brabham Appeals Sub-Committee Ruling; Demo Post Given To Amerson". Union Springs Herald. July 16, 1970. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ "Official Returns Confirm Election Of Two Negroes". Alabama Journal. November 9, 1970. p. 1\. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.