Preceded by Linda Wallace Role Electrical engineer Succeeded by Dave LaRock Name Joe May | Profession Electrical engineer Education Virginia Tech Alma mater Virginia Tech Spouse Roberta Compton Downs Rank Second lieutenant | |
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Full Name Joseph Turner May Born June 8, 1937
Broadway, Virginia ( 1937 -06-08 ) Other political
affiliations Independent Greens
Republican Children Susan May
Elaine May Attridge Committees Transportation
Appropriations
Science and Technology Residence Leesburg, Virginia, United States | ||
Political party Independent politician | ||
Joe Turner May (born June 8, 1937) is an American businessman, electrical engineer, inventor, aviator, and politician.
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. May holds over twenty patents in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering. He is also an avid aviator, holding licenses in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
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. 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.
In June 2013, Dave LaRock – aligned with the Tea Party – defeated May in the 33rd district Republican primary.
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. May was endorsed by both the conservative-leaning National Federation of Independent Business and the centralist Independent Greens Party. On election day, May garnered 10% of the vote, while the Democratic and Republican candidates received 53% and 38%, respectively.
May and his wife, Roberta Compton Downs, currently reside in Leesburg, Virginia. They have two daughters, Susan May and Elaine May Attridge.