Jo Bonner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jo Bonner
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| 4th President of the University of South Alabama | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Waldrop |
| Chief of Staff to the Governor of Alabama | |
| In office January 20, 2019 – December 2, 2021 |
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| Governor | Kay Ivey |
| Preceded by | Steve Pelham |
| Succeeded by | Liz Filmore |
| Chair of the House Ethics Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Zoe Lofgren |
| Succeeded by | Mike Conaway |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – August 2, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Sonny Callahan |
| Succeeded by | Bradley Byrne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Josiah Robins Bonner
November 19, 1959 Selma, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Janée Lambert |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Alabama (BA) |
Josiah Robins Bonner Jr. (born November 19, 1959) is an American leader in education and a former politician. He is currently the fourth president of the University of South Alabama. Before this, he served as a U.S. representative for Alabama from 2003 to 2013. A U.S. representative is someone elected to speak for their state in the U.S. Congress. Jo Bonner is a member of the Republican Party. He left Congress in 2013 to work for the University of Alabama. Later, he was the Chief of Staff for Alabama Governor Kay Ivey from 2019 to 2021. In December 2021, he officially became the president of the University of South Alabama.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jo Bonner was born in Selma, Alabama, but he grew up in Camden, Alabama. He studied journalism at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and graduated in 1982.
Starting in Politics
Two years after college, Bonner began working for U.S. Congressman Sonny Callahan. He was Callahan's press secretary, which means he handled news and media for the campaign. In 1989, Bonner became Callahan's chief of staff, a top assistant role. He then moved to Mobile.
Bonner has also been involved in many community groups. He served on the board of directors for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. In 2000, the University of Alabama honored him as an outstanding alumnus in public relations.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Congressman
- 2002 Election
In 2002, Congressman Callahan decided not to run for re-election. Jo Bonner decided to run for the open seat. He won the Republican primary election, which is a vote to choose the party's candidate. He then won the general election against Democrat Judy Belk with 61% of the votes. This meant he became the U.S. representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district. This district has been represented by a Republican since 1965.
- 2004–2010 Elections
During these years, Jo Bonner was very popular. He won re-election easily, always getting more than 63% of the votes. In 2008 and 2010, he even ran for office without anyone running against him.
- 2012 Election
In 2012, Bonner ran for his sixth term. He faced three other candidates in the Republican primary. In this district, winning the Republican primary usually meant winning the election. An outside group tried to stop Bonner from winning, but he still won the primary with 56% of the votes. He won in all the counties in his district.
What He Did in Congress
Jo Bonner was known as a conservative politician. He had strong opinions on important issues. For example, he supported building offshore natural gas terminals near Mobile.
He also served on important committees in Congress. He was part of the House Appropriations Committee, which decides how the government spends money. He also chaired the House Ethics Committee, which makes sure members of Congress follow rules.
Bonner voted on many important laws. He supported the USA PATRIOT Act, which was about national security. He also voted for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. He was an Assistant Whip, which means he helped lead the Republican Party in the House.
He supported raising the federal minimum wage in 2007. He also voted for the TARP in 2008, which was a plan to help the economy. Bonner supported the Iraq War and did not want a set time for American troops to leave. He also supported a ban on same-sex marriage.
In 2013, a magazine reported that Bonner and his wife took a trip to Kenya. He said the trip was to research how illegal wildlife poaching might be connected to a terrorist group.
His Committee and Group Memberships
While in Congress, Jo Bonner was a member of several important groups:
- Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Defense
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Committee on Ethics (Chairman): This committee makes sure members of Congress follow rules.
He was also part of several caucuses, which are groups of lawmakers who share interests:
- Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus
- International Conservation Caucus
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Congressional Cement Caucus
Working for the Governor
In January 2019, Jo Bonner became the Chief of Staff for Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. This is a very important role, helping the governor manage her office and state affairs. Governor Ivey said Bonner would provide "outstanding leadership." Bonner left this job in 2021 to become president of the University of South Alabama.
Leading a University
Bonner left the U.S. Congress in 2013 to work for the University of Alabama. He was the vice chancellor for government relations and economic development.
In November 2021, Jo Bonner was chosen to be the next president of the University of South Alabama. Some people had questions because of his political background. Bonner asked them to "meet me halfway" and see what they could achieve together. He officially became the university's fourth president on December 2, 2021.
Personal Life
Jo Bonner is married to Janée Lambert. They live in Mobile, Alabama, and have two children: a daughter named Jennifer Lee and a son named Josiah Robins III. They are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. His sister, Judy Bonner, was also a president of the University of Alabama from 2012 to 2015.
Images for kids
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Jo Bonner
