Joe T. May

Joe Turner May (born June 8, 1937) is an American businessman, electrical engineer, inventor, aviator, and politician.

Joe May
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 33rd district
In office
January 12, 1994 – January 8, 2014
Preceded byLinda M. Wallace
Succeeded byDave LaRock
Personal details
Born
Joseph Turner May

(1937-06-08) June 8, 1937
Broadway, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRoberta Compton Downs
Children3
ResidenceLeesburg, Virginia
Alma materVirginia Tech
ProfessionElectrical engineer
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1955–1958
RankSergeant
Unit89th Ordnance Detachment

Biography

Born on June 8, 1937, in Broadway, Virginia, May graduated from Virginia Tech in 1959. Between 1955–1958, he served in the United States Army.

In 1977, May founded EIT, a Sterling-based electronics manufacturer.[1] May holds over twenty patents in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering.[1][2] He is also an avid aviator, holding licenses in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.[3]

Between 1994 and 2014, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 33rd district. The district included parts of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties. May, a self described moderate, was a member of the Republican Party caucus.[1][4] During his time in the House of Delegates, May was co-chair of the Science and Technology committee between 1998–2001, and chair between 2002–2007. Between 2008–2014, he was chair of the committee on Transportation.[4]

In June 2013, Dave LaRock defeated May in the 33rd district Republican primary.[5]

In December 2013, May announced his candidacy in a special election to succeed Democratic Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, in the Virginia State Senate. After the Republican Party decided to choose its candidate through a "mass meeting" instead of a primary, May declared he would run as an independent.[6] May was endorsed by both the conservative-leaning National Federation of Independent Business[7] and the centralist Independent Greens Party.[8] On election day, May garnered 10% of the vote, while the Democratic and Republican candidates received 53% and 38%, respectively.

May was the Republican candidate in the January 8, 2019, special election for the 33rd district to the Virginia Senate, losing to Democrat Jennifer Boysko, following Jennifer Wexton's election to the U.S. House of Representatives.[9][10]

May and his wife, Roberta Compton Downs, reside in Leesburg, Virginia. They have two daughters, Susan May and Elaine May Attridge, a son Philip May (deceased), and three grandchildren.

Electoral history
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd district
November 2, 1993[11] General Joe T. May Republican 9,773 51.9%
Jean S. Brown Democratic 8,736 46.4%
Christina Nelson Huth Independent 323 1.7%
Linda M. Wallace retired; seat stayed Republican
November 7, 1995[12] General Joe T. May Republican 10,090 61.7%
Richard D. Winter Democratic 6,239 37.4%
Write-ins 4 0.02%
November 4, 1997[13] General Joe T. May Republican 11,976 59.6%
Kenneth P. Halla Democratic 6,563 32.7%
Robert E. Primack Independent Greens 1,536 7.7%
Write-ins 15 0.1%
November 2, 1999[14] General Joe T. May Republican 14,095 98.8%
Write-ins 167 1.2%
Nov 6, 2001[15] General Joe T. May Republican 17,107 98.1%
Write-ins 328 1.9%
Nov 4, 2003[16] General Joe T. May Republican 16,031 98.1%
Write-ins 311 1.9%
Jun 14, 2005[17] Republican primary Joy T. May 2,974 59.8%
Christopher G. Oprison 1,999 40.2%
November 8, 2005[18] General Joe T. May Republican 20,621 91.8%
Write-ins 1,847 8.2%
November 6, 2007[19] General Joe T. May Republican 14,978 59.8%
Marty Martinez Democratic 10,029 40.1%
Write-ins 35 0.1%
November 3, 2009[20] General Joe T. May Republican 22,489 96.9%
Write-ins 722 3.1%
November 8, 2011[21] General Joe T. May Republican 13,027 97.4%
Write-ins 346 2.6%
June 4, 2013[22] Republican primary Dave LaRock 2,958 57.3%
Joe T. May 2,201 42.7%
Virginia State Senate, 33rd district
January 21, 2014[23] Special election Jennifer Wexton Democratic 11,427 52.7%
John Whitbeck Republican 8,128 37.5%
Joe T. May Independent 2,119 9.8%
Write-ins 3 0.01%
January 8, 2019[24] Special election Jennifer Boysko Democratic 14,127 69.5%
Joe T. May Republican 6,183 30.4%
Write-ins 27 0.01%

References
  1. Pershing, Ben (January 20, 2013). "Joe May looks for the middle ground in special election for control of Virginia Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. "Joe May is inducted into the Academy of Engineering Excellence". Bradley Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech. May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  3. Nadler, Danielle (May 7, 2015). "May Unveils Latest Invention, A First For Helicopter Technology". Leesburg Today. Vol. 27, no. 18. p. 3.
  4. "Bio for Joe T. May". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  5. Pershing, Ben; Whack, Errin (June 11, 2013). "Democrats give nod to Northam, Herring in statewide races". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  6. Gibson, Caitlin (June 11, 2013). "May breaks from GOP, will run as Independent in race for Herring's seat". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  7. "Business Group Endorses May For State Senate". Leesburg Today. January 3, 2014. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  8. "Independent Green Party endorsee Joe May for State Senate 33rd District". votejoinrun.us. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  9. Cline, Nathaniel (November 20, 2018). "Boysko, May to face-off in special election". Loudoun Times-Mirror.
  10. Baratko, Trevor (January 8, 2019). "Boysko wins 33rd Senate District special election". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  11. "The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  12. "1995 Election Results - HOD". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  13. "1997 Election Results - HOD". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  14. "Election Results - House of Delegates - Nov 1999 Gen Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  15. "General Election- November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  16. "General Election- November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  17. "Primary Election- June 14, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  18. "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  19. "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  20. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  21. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  22. "June 2013 Primary Election Preliminary Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  23. Nadler, Danielle (December 30, 2013). "May Secures Spot On Special Election Ballot". Leesburg Today. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  24. Baratko, Trevor (January 8, 2019). "Boysko wins 33rd Senate District special election". Loudoun Times. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
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