Buddy MacKay
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. (born March 22, 1933) is an American
politician
and diplomat
from Florida
. A Democrat
, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles
on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt. Governor and later special envoy of President Bill Clinton
's administration for the Americas.
he is the last Democrat to serve as Florida Governor, while Chiles remains the last Democrat elected to that office.
-farming family in Ocala, Florida
. He served in the United States Air Force
during the 1950s, and then attended the University of Florida
, where he was tapped in to Florida Blue Key
and eventually received a law degree
. MacKay was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame (the most prestigious honor a student can receive from UF). He married Anne Selph in 1960; the couple has four sons.
MacKay was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
in 1968, and to the Florida Senate
in 1975. From 1983 to 1989 he served for three terms in the United States House of Representatives
, where he made controlling the national budget one of his main concerns. In 1988 he received the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate
, but lost in a very close race for that office to Connie Mack III
.
. They won the election and were re-elected in 1994.
As Lieutenant Governor, MacKay was given many duties and played a very important role in Chiles' cabinet, including being co-chair of the Florida Commission on Education, Reform and Accountability. He was regarded as the most significant and powerful lieutenant governor in Florida's history.
MacKay was a strong supporter of use of capital punishment
, as Chiles was. When he was asked during gubernatorial election about his positions on use the death penalty and electric chair
in Florida, he replied: I support the death penalty and support the use of the electric chair so long as it operates in a reliable fashion. However he suggested Florida should change its mode of execution after Pedro Medina
's botched execution, said: The last thing we want to do is generate sympathy for these killers.
In 1998 MacKay sought to succeed term-limited Chiles as Governor, easily winning the Democratic nomination with his full support (Chiles and MacKay were known for their friendly relationship). He was soundly defeated by Republican
nominee Jeb Bush
.
with his wife. When they returned to their hotel room, they found a message about Chiles' death, asking MacKay to get on a plane to Atlanta, where they were picked up by a state crew and flown through thick fog to Tallahassee.
At 12.30 a.m. the next day 65-year old MacKay was sworn-in as Florida's 42nd Governor at his capitol office for the 23 days remaining in Chiles' term.
MacKay's primary tasks as Governor were overseeing Chiles' funeral service and transition of power to Governor-Elect Bush. He, however, made some leftover appointments.
There's no great pleasure in this - said MacKay about taking a job he sought, but got for a short time after his political partner's death. He also stated how sorry he was that he would be unable because of short time and lack of mandate to take care on such issues as education and health care.
MacKay was succeeded by Bush on January 5, 1999.
After his governorship ended, MacKay retired from active politics. He, however, remains publicly active.
He was appointed by President Clinton a special envoy for the Americas. During his tenure he traveled to 26 countries in the Americas, working on issues such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Caribbean Basin Initiative
(CBI), hemispheric security, strengthening the rule of law, labor standards, environmental policies and human rights.
He attended a symposium “Day with Florida Governors”, organized by University of Central Florida
and Louis Frey institute on March 27, 2006 with Governor Bush and former Governors Claude Roy Kirk, Jr., Reubin Askew, Bob Graham
and Bob Martinez
(Wayne Mixson
, who served for three days after Graham's resignation wasn’t present at the event).
MacKay's memoir about his political career, How Florida Happened, was published by the University Press of Florida in March 2010.
, 6th district (1974)
Florida Senate, 6th district (1978)
Florida United States Senate election, 1980 (Democratic primary)
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1982
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1984
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1986
Florida United States Senate election, 1988 (Democratic primary)
Florida United States Senate election, 1988 (Democratic runoff)
Florida United States Senate election, 1988
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1990
Florida gubernatorial election, 1990
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1994
Florida gubernatorial election, 1994
Florida gubernatorial election, 1998
Source: Our Campaigns - Candidate - Kenneth "Buddy" MacKay, Jr
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt. Governor and later special envoy of President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's administration for the Americas.
he is the last Democrat to serve as Florida Governor, while Chiles remains the last Democrat elected to that office.
Early life and career
MacKay was born to a citrusCitrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
-farming family in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the 1950s, and then attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, where he was tapped in to Florida Blue Key
Florida Blue Key
Florida Blue Key is a student honor and service society at the University of Florida. It is often written and referred to by the initialism "FBK."This organization was started at the University of Florida in 1923 under the presidency of Albert Murphree...
and eventually received a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
. MacKay was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame (the most prestigious honor a student can receive from UF). He married Anne Selph in 1960; the couple has four sons.
MacKay was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
in 1968, and to the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
in 1975. From 1983 to 1989 he served for three terms in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, where he made controlling the national budget one of his main concerns. In 1988 he received the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but lost in a very close race for that office to Connie Mack III
Connie Mack III
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III , popularly known as Connie Mack, is a former Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a Senator from 1989 to 2001. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican...
.
Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate
MacKay won the 1990 Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket headed by former Senator Lawton ChilesLawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
. They won the election and were re-elected in 1994.
As Lieutenant Governor, MacKay was given many duties and played a very important role in Chiles' cabinet, including being co-chair of the Florida Commission on Education, Reform and Accountability. He was regarded as the most significant and powerful lieutenant governor in Florida's history.
MacKay was a strong supporter of use of capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, as Chiles was. When he was asked during gubernatorial election about his positions on use the death penalty and electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in Florida, he replied: I support the death penalty and support the use of the electric chair so long as it operates in a reliable fashion. However he suggested Florida should change its mode of execution after Pedro Medina
Pedro Medina
Pedro Luis Medina was a Cuban refugee who was executed by the state of Florida for the murder of a 52-year-old woman in Orlando...
's botched execution, said: The last thing we want to do is generate sympathy for these killers.
In 1998 MacKay sought to succeed term-limited Chiles as Governor, easily winning the Democratic nomination with his full support (Chiles and MacKay were known for their friendly relationship). He was soundly defeated by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
.
Governorship
Despite defeat, MacKay became Chiles' successor when Chiles died unexpectedly on December 12, 1998. MacKay was at this time in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
with his wife. When they returned to their hotel room, they found a message about Chiles' death, asking MacKay to get on a plane to Atlanta, where they were picked up by a state crew and flown through thick fog to Tallahassee.
At 12.30 a.m. the next day 65-year old MacKay was sworn-in as Florida's 42nd Governor at his capitol office for the 23 days remaining in Chiles' term.
MacKay's primary tasks as Governor were overseeing Chiles' funeral service and transition of power to Governor-Elect Bush. He, however, made some leftover appointments.
There's no great pleasure in this - said MacKay about taking a job he sought, but got for a short time after his political partner's death. He also stated how sorry he was that he would be unable because of short time and lack of mandate to take care on such issues as education and health care.
MacKay was succeeded by Bush on January 5, 1999.
Diplomacy and later life
He was appointed by President Clinton a special envoy for the Americas. During his tenure he traveled to 26 countries in the Americas, working on issues such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Caribbean Basin Initiative
Caribbean Basin Initiative
The Caribbean Basin Initiative was a unilateral and temporary United States program initiated by the 1983 "Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act" . The CBI came into effect on January 1, 1984 and aimed to provide several tariff and trade benefits to many Central American and Caribbean countries....
(CBI), hemispheric security, strengthening the rule of law, labor standards, environmental policies and human rights.
He attended a symposium “Day with Florida Governors”, organized by University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
and Louis Frey institute on March 27, 2006 with Governor Bush and former Governors Claude Roy Kirk, Jr., Reubin Askew, Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
and Bob Martinez
Bob Martinez
Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :...
(Wayne Mixson
Wayne Mixson
John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in...
, who served for three days after Graham's resignation wasn’t present at the event).
MacKay's memoir about his political career, How Florida Happened, was published by the University Press of Florida in March 2010.
Electoral history
Florida SenateFlorida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, 6th district (1974)
- Buddy MacKay (D) - 26,418 (75.32%)
- Charles E. Curtus (R) - 8,655 (24.68%)
Florida Senate, 6th district (1978)
- Buddy MacKay (D, Inc.) - elected unopposed
Florida United States Senate election, 1980 (Democratic primary)
- Richard Stone (Inc.) - 355,287 (32.08%)
- Bill GunterBill GunterWilliam Dawson "Bill" Gunter, Jr. was an American politician from the state of Florida.-Early life and education:Gunter was born in Jacksonville in 1934. He attended public schools in Live Oak and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Florida in 1956...
- 335,859 (30.33%) - Buddy MacKay - 272,538 (24.61%)
- Richard A. Pettigrew - 108,154 (9.77%)
- James L. Miller - 18,118 (1.64%)
- John B. CoffeyJohn B. CoffeyJohn Brindley Coffey is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the USAAF who flew with the Hell's Angels in the 303d Bombardment Group in World War II and was Deputy Chairman and then Chairman of the USAAF Nato Planning Liaison Group during the Cold War.-Early life:He was born in Rossville, Georgia,...
- 17,410 (1.57%)
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1982
- Buddy MacKay (D) - 85,825 (61.35%)
- Ed Havill (R) - 54,059 (38.65%)
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1984
- Buddy MacKay (D, Inc.) - 167,409 (99.30%)
- Eric Tarnley (write-in) - 1,174 (0.70%)
Florida's 6th congressional district, 1986
- Buddy MacKay (D, Inc.) - 143,598 (70.16%)
- Larry Gallagher (R) - 61,069 (29.84%)
Florida United States Senate election, 1988 (Democratic primary)
- Bill GunterBill GunterWilliam Dawson "Bill" Gunter, Jr. was an American politician from the state of Florida.-Early life and education:Gunter was born in Jacksonville in 1934. He attended public schools in Live Oak and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Florida in 1956...
- 383,721 (38.00%) - Buddy MacKay - 263,946 (26.14%)
- Dan Mica - 179,524 (17.78%)
- Pat Frank - 119,277 (11.81%)
- Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. - 51,387 (5.09%)
- Fred Rader - 11,820 (1.17%)
Florida United States Senate election, 1988 (Democratic runoff)
- Buddy MacKay - 369,266 (52.00%)
- Bill GunterBill GunterWilliam Dawson "Bill" Gunter, Jr. was an American politician from the state of Florida.-Early life and education:Gunter was born in Jacksonville in 1934. He attended public schools in Live Oak and received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Florida in 1956...
- 340,918 (48.00%)
Florida United States Senate election, 1988
- Connie Mack IIIConnie Mack IIICornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III , popularly known as Connie Mack, is a former Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a Senator from 1989 to 2001. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican...
(R) - 2,051,071 (50.42%) - Buddy MacKay (D) - 2,016,553 (49.57%)
- Adam Straus (write-in) - 585 (0.01%)
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1990
- Buddy MacKay - 746,325 (69.49%)
- Tom Gustafson - 327,731 (30.51%)
Florida gubernatorial election, 1990
Florida gubernatorial election, 1990
-Overview:Republican incumbent Bob Martinez, who was just a second member of his party elected Governor of Florida after Reconstruction, was deeply unpopular. His job approval rating had sunk to around 24% after, in 1989, he called the Florida Legislature into special session in an effort to pass...
- Lawton ChilesLawton ChilesLawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
/Buddy MacKay (D) - 1,995,206 (56.51%) - Bob MartinezBob MartinezRobert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :...
/J. Allison DeFoor (R) - 1,535,068 (43.48%)
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1994
- Buddy MacKay (Inc.) - 603,657 (72.17%)
- James H. King - 232,757 (27.83%)
Florida gubernatorial election, 1994
Florida gubernatorial election, 1994
The 1994 Florida Gubernatorial Election was held on November 8, 1994. Governor Lawton Chiles survived a strong challenge from businessman Jeb Bush to win re-election. This race was the second closest gubernatorial election in Florida history since Reconstruction due to the strong Republican wave...
- Lawton Chiles/Buddy MacKay (D, Inc.) - 2,135,008 (50.75%)
- Jeb BushJeb BushJohn Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
/Tom FeeneyTom FeeneyThomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney , is an American politician from the state of Florida. He represented . He was defeated in the 2008 election by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.-Early life:...
(R) - 2,071,068 (49.23%)
Florida gubernatorial election, 1998
Florida gubernatorial election, 1998
The 1998 Florida Gubernatorial Election was held on November 3, 1998. Governor Lawton Chiles was term-limited and could not run for re-election. Republican Jeb Bush, who had previously run for Governor in 1994 as the Republican nominee, defeated Democratic nominee Buddy MacKay in the general election...
- Jeb Bush/Frank BroganFrank BroganFrank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida...
(R) - 2,191,105 (55.27%) - Buddy MacKay/Rick DantzlerRick DantzlerRick Dantzler was a United States politician from Florida and a member of the Democratic Party.Dantzler served in Florida House of Representatives from 1983 to 1989 and in Florida Senate from 1989 to 1999....
(D) - 1,773,054 (44.72%)
Source: Our Campaigns - Candidate - Kenneth "Buddy" MacKay, Jr