Buddy MacKay

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Kenneth MacKay

Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay Jr. (born March 22, 1933 in Ocala , Florida ) is an American politician of the Democratic Party . He was the 42nd governor of the state of Florida from 1998 to 1999 . Between 1983 and 1989 he represented his state in Congress .

Early years and political advancement

MacKay attended Ocala High School and the University of Florida , where he took his law exam in 1961. He previously served as a captain in the US Air Force from 1955 to 1958 . His political career began in 1968 when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He stayed there until 1974. For the next six years until 1980 he served in the Senate of that state . From January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1989, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives .

Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Florida

In 1990 MacKay was elected Lieutenant Governor of Florida alongside Governor Lawton Chiles . Four years later, both were confirmed in office. As Lieutenant Governor, he was entrusted with many additional duties, which made him the most powerful holder of this office. Among other things, he was deputy chairman of the education committee. He was also a supporter of the death penalty. When the gubernatorial elections in 1998 came up, he succeeded with the help of Chile, with whom he was also private friend, to win the democratic primaries and to achieve the nomination as their top candidate. However, he was defeated in the actual elections to the Republican Jeb Bush , who had failed four years earlier because of Chile.

Due to the surprising death of Governor of Chile on December 12, 1998, MacKay was given the post of governor. He had to bridge the remaining three weeks of his predecessor's term until January 5, 1999. As governor, he only had to organize the funeral ceremonies for his predecessor and prepare for the transfer of office to Bush. To date (as of 2020) MacKay is the last Democratic governor of Florida.

After the end of his brief tenure as governor, he withdrew from politics. Kenneth MacKay is married to Anne Selph, with whom he has four children.

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Commons : Kenneth MacKay  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files
personal data
SURNAME MacKay, buddy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES MacKay, Kenneth Hood (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician (Democratic Party)
DATE OF BIRTH March 22, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Ocala , Florida