Jim Baird (politician)

James Richard Baird[3] (born June 4, 1945)[4] is an American businessman and politician who serves as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th congressional district. Before being elected to Congress, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.[5] He previously served as commissioner for Putnam County, Indiana from 2006 to 2010. Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.[6]

Jim Baird
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 4th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byTodd Rokita
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the 44th district
In office
November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2018
Preceded byNancy Michael
Succeeded byBeau Baird
Member of the
Putnam County Commission
from the 2nd district
In office
2006–2010
Preceded byDennis O'Hair
Succeeded byNancy Fogle
Personal details
Born
James Richard Baird

(1945-06-04) June 4, 1945
Covington, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Denise
Children3
EducationPurdue University (BS, MS)
University of Kentucky (PhD)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1969–1972[1]
Rank First lieutenant
Unit523rd Transportation Company[2]
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsBronze Star
Purple Heart

Military service

Jim Baird served in the ROTC at Purdue University from 1963 to 1965. He attended the Officer Candidate School Class 2–70 at Fort Benning and Jungle Warfare School in Panama from 1969 to 1970, and was commissioned in the Infantry.[7] The United States Army was sending infantry divisions home when Second Lieutenant Baird arrived in Vietnam in 1970. Because of the excess of Infantry officers, he was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company (Light Truck) at Cha Rang Valley. Baird and the other officers were highly respected by the men because they shared the same risks and burdens.[8]

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander considered the 523rd his best truck company and when instructed to send two light truck companies north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971, he chose to send his best. The 523rd was attached to the 39th Transportation Battalion and stationed at the abandoned Marine Corps base Camp Vandergrift. During the two-and-a-half-month incursion into Laos, the North Vietnamese Army tried to close down the supply route with a total of 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the deadliest ambushes of the operation, and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971.[9][10][11] He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.[2] In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719.[12]

Political career

He ran for Putnam County Commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary.[13] Baird represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township.[14] He served as Commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle.[15] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018 general election

Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018.[16] The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the GOP primary on May 8, 2018.[17][10] He won the election on November 6, 2018.

Tenure

Baird was the second-oldest member of the 116th Congress freshman class, after Democrat Donna Shalala, who was born in 1941.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Baird 29,316 36.6
Republican Steve Braun 23,594 29.4
Republican Diego Morales 11,994 15.0
Republican Jared Thomas 8,453 10.5
Republican Kevin Grant 3,667 4.6
Republican James Nease 2,096 2.6
Republican Tim Radice 1,022 1.3
Total votes 80,142 100.0
Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Baird 156,539 64.1
Democratic Tobi Beck 87,824 35.9
Total votes 244,363 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Baird's son, Beau, was elected Chairman of the Putnam County Republican Party in March 2017. Beau ran to replace him in the Indiana House of Representatives. Beau won the election on November 6, 2018.[18][19]

Baird resides in Greencastle, Indiana.[20]

References
  1. https://trackbill.com/legislator/us-congress-representative-james-r-baird/623-18023/
  2. "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. Indiana Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee: Committee to Elect Jim Baird
  4. Perks, Ashley (November 15, 2018). "Indiana New Members 2019". TheHill. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. "List of All Offices and Office Holders". March 5, 2015.
  6. "Complete House election results – CNN". www.cnn.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  7. "Jim Baird for Congress".
  8. "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).
  9. Landers, Elizabeth. "Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor". Cnn.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  10. Pathé, Simone (May 9, 2018). "Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District". Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via www.rollcall.com.
  11. "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).
  12. "Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF".
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621093305/https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1224464.html
  14. "Wayback Machine". web.archive.org. July 4, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509151242/http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1687165.html
  16. "Local News: Baird announces bid for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress (10/19/17)". Greencastle Banner Graphic. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  17. "Indiana Primary Election Results". May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  18. https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/2567986.html
  19. https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/2564748.html
  20. Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress
Political offices
Preceded by
Dennis O'Hair		 Member of the Putnam County Commission
from the 2nd district
2006–2010		 Succeeded by
Nancy Fogle
Indiana House of Representatives
Preceded by
Nancy Michael		 Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the 44th district
2010–2018		 Succeeded by
Beau Baird
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Todd Rokita		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 4th congressional district
2019–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Cindy Axne		 United States Representatives by seniority
345th		 Succeeded by
Anthony Brindisi
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