James M. Branum
From Oklahoma
James Matthew Branum (b. June 1976; Chickasha, Oklahoma, United States) is the state secretary of the Green Party of Oklahoma and a former co-chair of the party. He also was a candidate for public office in both Texas and Oklahoma.
Political career
Branum's political career began in the Republican Party in the mid-1990s when he served as president of the College Republicans at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, secretary of the Oklahoma Federation of College Republicans, and delegate to the Oklahoma state Republican convention.
He later moved to Austin, Texas where he continued in politics as Republican Party chair for Precinct 147.
In 1999, Branum left the Republican Party to join the Libertarians, and in 2000 ran for Constable, Pct. 5 in Travis County, Texas on the Libertarian ticket. He received 5,611 votes, or 17.82% of the votes cast in a two-way race against incumbent Democrat Bruce Elfant.
In 2001, Branum made his third political affiliation change, joining the Green Party in Hays County, Texas, and later was a founding member of the Green Party of Oklahoma and the Rural Greens chapter of the Oklahoma Greens. He served as state executive committee member-at-large from 2002-2004, and as state co-chair from 2004-2005. He also was one of Oklahoma's delegates to the Green Party of the United States national convention in Milwaukee, WI in 2004, and was an alternate delegate to the party's annual national meeting in Tulsa, OK in 2005.
In 2006, Branum for Oklahoma State House District #99 as an Independent (but endorsed by the Green Party). He received 306 votes or 4.81% of the votes cast in the three way race.
Education and work
In addition to his political work, Branum is a Mennonite lay minister, a peace activist, and the author of the blog JMBzine. He works as a attorney.
Branum graduated from Austin Graduate School of Theology (then the Institute for Christian Studies in Austin) in May 2000 with a B.A. in Bible (Christian Ministry emphasis), and completed a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law in December 2005. He is also currently pursuing a degree in Religious Studies from Tulsa Community College.
He is a member of the National Lawyers Guild and the Industrial Workers of the World and is also involved with the Oklahoma Independent Media Center and Oklahoma City Critical Mass.
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