Cam Ward (born March 24, 1971) is an American politician who served as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Alabama Senate The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, with each district conta ...

, representing District 14 from 2010 to 2020. He previously represented District 49 of the Alabama House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010.

Biography

Ward was born in Milton, Florida and graduated from Bradford County High School in Starke, Florida. He received an undergraduate degree (international relations and political science) from Troy University and a J.D. degree from the

Cumberland School of Law Cumberland School of Law is an American Bar Association, ABA accredited law school at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It was founded in 1847 at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee and is the 11th oldest law schoo ...

at Samford University. While at Troy, Ward served two terms as Student Government Association president. Ward is the executive director of the Industrial Development Board of

Alabaster, Alabama Alabaster is a city and southern suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 33,284. Alabaster is the 16th largest city in Alabama by number of residents. Geography Alabaster is locate ...

. He is chairman of the Autism Task Force of Alabama and helped launch Autism Alabama, "an on-line library providing distance learning for teachers who have children on the autism spectrum."

Career

Shortly after his daughter Riley was born in 2002, Ward was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 49, where he served two terms. In 2010, he was elected to the

, representing District 14. In December 2010, Ward supported a piece of legislation granting Subpoena Power to the Alabama Ethics Commission. The bill passed both chambers of the Alabama Legislature on December 16, 2010, and was signed into law by Governor

Bob Riley Robert Renfroe Riley (born October 3, 1944) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 52nd governor of Alabama from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented Alabama's 3rd district in the U. ...

. In 2015, Ward was arrested for

DUI Driving under the influence (DUI)—also called driving while impaired, impaired driving, driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, operating while intoxicated (OWI), operating under the influence (OUI), operating vehicle under the infl ...

and admitted to guilt. He apologized and entered a

pre-trial diversion A diversion program, also known as a pretrial diversion program or pretrial intervention program, in the criminal justice system is a form of pretrial Sentence (law), sentencing that helps remedy behavior leading to the arrest. Administered by ...

program for first-time offenders. Shortly after, he announced an amicable divorce from his wife of 23 years, Julie Cain, on Facebook. In 2016, Ward was recognized by the

Foundation for Government Accountability The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is an American public policy think tank based in Naples, Florida. The nonprofit organization primarily focuses on welfare, health care, election integrity, and workforce policy reform at both th ...

with the "Friend of Government Accountability Award" for his efforts in healthcare reform. In 2017, the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research announced Senator Ward as its chairman for 2017–2018. 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.

Career timeline

* Director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles-(2020–present) *Alabama State Senate– (2010–2020) * 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

External links

*
Alabama State Senate – State Sen. Cam Ward

Project Vote Smart – State Rep. Cam Ward
*
Political profile at Bama Politics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Cam 1971 births Living people People from Milton, Florida Troy University alumni Cumberland School of Law alumni Alabama lawyers 21st-century American politicians Republican Party Alabama state senators Republican Party members of the Alabama House of Representatives 2008 United States presidential electors