Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay Jr. (March 22, 1933 – December 31, 2024) is an American politician and diplomat. He served as Governor of Florida, following the death of then-Governor Lawton Chiles.[1] He served as Governor for less than a month. He is the last Democrat to serve as Governor of Florida.[2]
Buddy MacKay | |
|---|---|
 MacKay as lieutenant governor in 1991 | |
| United States Special Envoy for the Americas | |
| In office March 5, 1999 – January 20, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Mack McLarty |
| Succeeded by | Otto Reich |
| 42nd Governor of Florida | |
| In office December 12, 1998 – January 5, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Lawton Chiles |
| Succeeded by | Jeb Bush |
| 14th Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 8, 1991 – December 12, 1998 | |
| Governor | Lawton Chiles |
| Preceded by | Bobby Brantley |
| Succeeded by | Frank Brogan |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Young |
| Succeeded by | Cliff Stearns |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office November 5, 1974 – November 4, 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Williams |
| Succeeded by | George G. Kirkpatrick Jr. |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 5, 1968 – November 5, 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Chappell |
| Succeeded by | Wayne C. McCall |
| Constituency | 30th district (1968–1972) 32nd district (1972–1974) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kenneth Hood MacKay Jr. March 22, 1933 Ocala, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2024 (aged 91) Ocklawaha, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Anne Selph (m. 1960) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Florida (BA, BS, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1955–1958 |
| Rank | Captain |
Early life
changeMacKay was born in Ocala, Florida. His family were citrus farmers. He studied at the University of Florida. MacKay served the United States Air Force. He married Anne Selph in 1960.
Early career
changeMacKay 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.
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.
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
changeMacKay won the 1990 Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket headed by former Senator Lawton Chiles. They won the election and were re-elected in 1994. MacKay succeeded Chiles as governor after his sudden death in 1998.
Governor of Florida
changeIn 1998 MacKay sought to succeed Chiles as Governor, easily winning the Democratic nomination with his full support (Chiles and MacKay were known for their friendly relationship). He was defeated by Republican nominee Jeb Bush.
A few months later, he became governor after Chiles' death. MacKay served as governor for 23 days. During his term as governor, MacKay granted six pardons to female prisoners and tried to fix the Everglades[source?]. He appointed Peggy Quince for Florida Supreme Court.
In 1999, he was succeeded by Bush.
Personal life
changeMacKay lives in Tallahassee with his wife. MacKay has four children. MacKay died at his home in Ocklawaha, Florida, on the afternoon of December 31, 2024.[3][4]
References
change- ↑ State: MacKay steps into awkward 23 days
- ↑ "Nan Rich Claims Lawton Chiles' Legacy With Buddy MacKay's Endorsement". Sun Shine State News.com. February 4, 2014. Archived from the original on February 14, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ↑ "Former Florida Gov. Buddy MacKay dead at 91". Associated Press. January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Former Florida Gov. Buddy MacKay dies at 91". Bay News 9. January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
Other websites
change
Media related to Buddy MacKay at Wikimedia Commons