Bill McCollum

Bill McCollum
36th Attorney General of Florida
In office January 2, 2007 – January 4, 2011
Governor	Charlie Crist
Preceded by	Charlie Crist
Succeeded by	Pam Bondi
Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference
In office 1989–1995
Leader	Bob Michel
Preceded by	Lynn Morley Martin
Succeeded by	Susan Molinari
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Bill Young
Succeeded by	Ric Keller
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Richard Kelly
Succeeded by	Karen Thurman
Personal details
Born	July 12, 1944 Brooksville, Florida
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ingrid Seebohm
Alma mater	University of Florida

Ira William "Bill" McCollum, Jr. (born July 12, 1944) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2001, representing Florida's 5th congressional district, which was later redistricted to the 8th congressional district in 1993. As a member of the House, McCollum rose to become Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference, the fifth-highest ranking position in the House Republican leadership. He voted to impeach President Bill Clinton and subsequently took a leadership role in managing Clinton's trial in the Senate, which ended in acquittal.

He was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 2000, hoping to replace the retiring Republican Connie Mack III, losing to Democratic nominee Bill Nelson. McCollum ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate again in 2004 but lost to Mel Martínez. In 2006 he was elected Attorney General of Florida and in 2010 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida, losing to businessman Rick Scott.^[1]

Early life

Born and raised in Brooksville, Florida, McCollum graduated from Hernando High School and earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Florida. While at the University of Florida, he was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame, the most prestigious honor a student leader could receive, and served as president of Florida Blue Key.

McCollum's professional career began in 1969 with the United States Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps where he served on active duty until 1972. McCollum was an officer for more than 23 years before retiring from the United States Naval Reserve as a Commander (O-5) in the JAG Corps in 1992. In 1973, he entered private practice in Orlando and became involved in local politics, serving as Chairman of the Seminole County Republican Party from 1976 to 1980.

Congressional career

1981, Congressional Pictorial Directory, McCollum as a first term Congressman

In 1980 McCollum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a district including Walt Disney World and most of Orlando. He defeated incumbent Representative Richard Kelly in the Republican primary.

While in Congress, McCollum founded the House Republican Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, chairing it for six years. He also served three terms on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, two of which as Chairman of its Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence. Additionally, McCollum served as Vice Chairman of the House Banking Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee, where he was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime.

While serving the House, McCollum was also selected for a variety of Republican leadership positions, including three terms as Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. McCollum gained national attention as one of 15 members selected to serve on the House Committee to Investigate the Iran-Contra Affair, and, in 1998–1999, as one of the House Managers of President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.

U.S. Senate elections

Rather than seek reelection to the House in 2000, McCollum ran unsuccessfully for an open United States Senate seat, bringing to an end his 20-year Congressional career.

McCollum ran again in 2004, seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Bob Graham. He was defeated in the Republican primary by HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who went on to win the seat.

McCollum served as a partner with the Baker & Hostetler LLP law firm, practicing in the federal policy area. In addition to his duties as the state's chief legal officer, he serves as President and Chairman of the Healthy Florida Foundation, chartered in 2002 to find consensus on long-term solutions to the nation's health care system. He is a member of the North Florida Committee on Foreign Relations. He is also a board member of the James Madison Institute.

Florida Attorney General

In 2006, McCollum ran for the office of Attorney General of the State of Florida, defeating State Senator Skip Campbell in the general election.

McCollum led a group of Attorneys General in filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare. He also filed a brief in support of Arizona's immigration law.^[2]

McCollum opposed the federal Stimulus bill, as well as the $20 billion federal oil fund that limited his office's ability to pursue claims against BP, and requested additional authority from the federal government to address Medicaid fraud.^[2]

While Attorney General, McCollum defended Florida's ban of adoptions by homosexuals from a lawsuit challenging the ban. McCollum hired a controversial clinical psychologist to testify during the trial that heterosexual parents provide a better environment for children. The trial resulted in the overturning of the ban. When an appellate court upheld the lower court ruling, McCollum declined to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. ^[3][4]

He was also the Florida Chairman for Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign in 2008.^[5]

2010 gubernatorial candidate

On May 18, 2009 McCollum announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida. The election determined the successor of Charlie Crist who later lost his bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate.^[6]

McCollum opposed federal health care mandates in Florida, decrying them as an unconstitutional "tax on living," and joined with 13 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit.^[7] The majority of Florida voters opposed such a lawsuit according to polling in April 2010.^[8] He has advocated a state constitutional amendment that would opt Florida out of Washington mandates on health care, although questions about whether such an amendment would be constitutional have been raised. On Sept 8, 2009 McCollum said he supported Medicare and Medicaid programs but opposed a government-run 'public option' for health insurance.^[9]

On August 24, 2010, McCollum lost the Republican primary election to Rick Scott.^[1]

Private Sector

McCollum is currently a Director of AML Superconductivity & Magnetics, a privately held company that is recognized as a leader in the development of innovative magnet-based and superconducting applications, located in Melbourne, Florida.^[10]

Personal life

McCollum is married to Ingrid Seebohm McCollum. They have three sons: Douglas, Justin and Andrew, two daughters-in-law and two grandsons and one granddaughter.

See also

Joe Jacquot (McCollum's Deputy Attorney General and chief of staff)

References

1. "Scott Shakes Up Florida Governor Race With GOP Primary Win Over McCollum". FOXNews.com. 2010-04-07. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
2. Strassel, Kimberley (2010-08-06). "McCollum vs. Obamacare". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
3. Billman, Jeffrey C. "News+Features: Florida'S Case Against Gay Adoption". Orlandoweekly.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
4. Rudolph, Dana (2010-10-23). "Florida attorney general does not appeal gay adoption ruling". Keen News Service. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
5. Archived January 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
7. "States Sue to Block Health-Care Reform as Illegal (Update2)". BusinessWeek. 2010-03-23. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
8. Quinnipiac University – Office of Public Affairs (2010-04-19). "Florida (FL) Poll * April 19, 2010 * McCollum Leads Tight Florida G – Quinnipiac University – Hamden, Connecticut". Quinnipiac.edu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
9. Bousquet, Steve. "Bill McCollum opposes insurance `public option' – Healthcare Reform". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
10. "Advanced Magnet Lab announces appointment of Bill McCollum to board of directors".

External links

• Bill McCollum, official profile, Office of the Attorney General of Florida
• Bill McCollum, official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org (2004 Senate race)
• Appearances on C-SPAN