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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(s) | 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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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.
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 voted eight times to cut Medicare, voted to raise the eligibility age for Medicare and Social Security[6] [7]. 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 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. However, McCollum was defeated in the Republican primary by HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who went on to win the seat.
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.
A focal point of McCollum's tenure as Attorney General were programs designed to protect children against internet child predators. 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 prepared a cybersafety program to present in all of Florida's middle schools and high schools.
State Plane Usage
In 2009 both Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Bill McCollum (both running for Florida governor) were the subject of reports questioning their use of state planes.[1]. Both candidates have had ethics complaints filed against them by citizens, but those investigations are ongoing.[1]
Allegations of SBA Mismanagement
Despite 39 audits dating back to 2000 warning of risky, complex, unregulated investments involving leveraged funds, the Florida State Board of Administration lost approximately one-third of the fund ($61.4 billion) between July 2008 and January 2009.[2] Nineteen of these audits warning of risk were issued while Crist, Sink, and McCollum were trustees. Some of the losses included a $682 million investment with Lehman Brothers, which went sour when Lehman Brothers declared backruptcy on September 15, 2008. The SBA also lost as much as $250 million in real estate deals gone bad in New York City, involving high priced apartment complexes. Other losses occurred with Pinnacle Point, Catapult, and Luminant Star. A November 2007 audit revealed that the SBA had $2.2 billion in shaky securities. News of this leaked out and hundreds of panicked school districts and local government agencies withdrew billions of dollars before a freeze was ordered by the trustees.[2] As a result of this "crisis of confidence" SBA executive director Coleman Stipanovich resigned his job in December 2007.[3] By November 2008 the SBA admitted that $2.625 billion was under "financial stress."[4][5][6][7]
On November 5, 2009, it was publicly revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had been formally investigating possible fraud by the Florida SBA since July 31, 2008. The investigation centers on whether or not the SBA and three firms, J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Lehman Brothers "'may have been or may be' involved in a scheme to defraud by making false statements about the risk and liquidity of investments purchased by the local pool and other SBA-managed funds."[8]
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.[9] It appears that he will face Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in the November 2010 general election. On Sept 8, 2009 McCollumn said he supported Medicare and Medicaid programs but opposes a'public option'[8] for health insurance[9].
Of note
In 2008, McCollum served as the Florida Chairman for the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign.[10]
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.
References
- ^ a b http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gubernatorial/on-the-fly-floridas-cabinet-members-rack-up-miles-in-state-planes/1013152
- ^ a b Sydney P. Freedberg, "How to scramble state's nest egg." St. Petersburg Times. 1-25-09 [1]
- ^ Helen Huntley and Scott Barancik, "State fund executive resigns" St. Petersburg Times, 12-5-07[2]
- ^ UPDATE ON STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION'S (SBA) FINANCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENTS, 9-15-08 [3]
- ^ Sydney P. Freedberg, "Florida's top officials never saw copies of a huge claim involving public investment money. Neither did you" St. Petersberg Times, 6-7-09 [4]
- ^ St. Petersberg Times,"Lehman woes have Florida implications" TC Palm, 9-11-08 [5]
- ^ "Who's watching the money?" Palm Beach Post Editorial, 6-28-09
- ^ "SEC investigating possible fraud by the Florida State Board of Administration" by Sydney P. Greenberg, St. Petersburg Times, 11-6-09
- ^ http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/1053939.html
- ^ http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/1154
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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