Bill McCollum
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Bill McCollum
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Charlie Crist |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Young |
| Succeeded by | Ric Keller |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Karen Thurman |
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| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ingrid Seebohm McCollum |
| Children | three |
| Residence | Florida |
| Occupation | Florida Attorney General |
Ira William "Bill" McCollum, Jr. (born July 12, 1944 in Brooksville, Florida) is the current Florida Attorney General and a former Republican Congressman from Florida.
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[edit] 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 began his professional career on active duty with the United States Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps from 1969 to 1972. In 1992, he retired from the United States Naval Reserve as a Commander (O-5) in the US Navy JAG Corps, having served over 23 years as an officer. In 1973, he entered private practice in Orlando and immediately became involved in local politics, serving as Chairman of the Seminole County Republican Party from 1976 to 1980.
[edit] Congressional career
In 1980 McCollum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a district including Walt Disney World and most of Orlando.
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. Rather than seek reelection to the House in 2000, McCollum ran unsucessfully for an open United States Senate seat, bringing to an end his 20-year Congressional career.
McCollum made a comeback bid in 2004, seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Bob Graham. However, McCollum was defeated in the Republican primary by HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who went on to win the seat.
[edit] 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 ran on the message of "making Florida a safer place to live, work, and raise a family."
Since taking office, McCollum has positioned Florida as a national leader in the fight against child pornography and internet child predators. At his request, the Florida Legislature provided the resources to greatly expand the Attorney General’s Child Predator CyberCrime Unit (CPCU) and passed laws giving law enforcement new tools and greater punishments for those who prey on children over the internet. Additionally, with the cooperation of the state’s school superintendents, the Attorney General’s office has prepared a cybersafety program to present in all of Florida’s middle schools and high schools. McCollum also launched a cybersafety website for children, teens and adults, located at http://www.safeflorida.net/safesurf.
As Attorney General, McCollum's other priorities include developing a statewide gang reduction strategy; consumer protection; combating Medicaid fraud; improving the state’s security against terrorist threats, and fighting crimes against the elderly, especially identity theft. More information on his statewide strategy to combat gang violence is available online at http://www.safeflorida.net/safestreets.
[edit] Gubernatorial campaign
On May 18, 2009, McCollum announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida to succeed Charlie Crist who has entered the race for U.S. Senate.[1]
[edit] Of note
In 2008, McCollum served as the Florida Chairman for the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign. [2]
Prior to his election as Florida Attorney General, 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.
McCollum is married to Ingrid Seebohm McCollum. They have three sons: Douglas, Justin and Andrew, two daughters-in-law and two grandsons.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bill McCollum |
- Bill McCollum, official campaign site
- Bill McCollum, official profile, Office of the Attorney General of Florida
- Bill McCollum at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Kelly |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 5th congressional district 1981–1993 |
Succeeded by Karen Thurman |
| Preceded by Bill Young |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 8th congressional district 1993–2001 |
Succeeded by Ric Keller |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lynn Morley Martin Illinois |
Vice-Chairman of House Republican Conference 1989–1995 |
Succeeded by Susan Molinari New York |
| Preceded by Connie Mack III |
Republican nominee for United States Senator from Florida (class 1) 2000 (lost) |
Succeeded by Katherine Harris |
| Preceded by Charlie Crist |
Republican nominee for Florida Attorney General 2006 (won) |
Succeeded by Most recent |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Charlie Crist |
Florida Attorney General 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
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