fl_gov_MACKAY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BUDDY MACKAY
Age: 65 Born: March 22, 1933; Ocala, Florida Education: University of Florida College of Law, J.D. (1961); University of Florida, B.S., B.A. (1954) Military: U.S. Air Force (1955-58) Family: Married - Anne; Four children, six grandchildren Hometown: Ocala, Florida Religion: Presbyterian Career: Lt. Governor (1991-present); Citrus farmer (1961-present); U.S. Rep. (1982-88); FL State Senator (1975-80); FL State Rep. (1969-74); Practicing attorney (1961-69) |
• Born Kenneth Hood MacKay, heÂ's been called Buddy since he was a small child. He still lives in Ocala, where he was born. MacKay grew up working on his familyÂ's citrus farm. His father, a farmer and also an inventor, patented a reverse gear for the outboard motor. His father died in a plane crash in 1963.
• MacKay attended Davidson College in North Carolina but transferred and graduated from the University of Florida in 1954. After college, he joined the Air Force, where he spent three years on active duty as a pilot.
• After his military service, he earned a law degree from the University of Florida School of Law. After graduating in 1961, he entered private law practice and maintained the family cattle and citrus interests. He and his family are still involved in the citrus farming business.
• During the civil rights movement, MacKay increasingly became concerned that his familyÂ's all-white church was not consistent with the BibleÂ's teaching. In 1965, he helped start Fort King Presbyterian, a church with a racially mixed congregation where he still worships.
• MacKay served in the Florida legislature for 12 years (1969-80). He made a run for U.S. Senate in 1980 but lost in the Democratic primary. He came in third behind then- incumbent Sen. Richard Stone and Bill Gunter.
• In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. ouse of Representatives, where he served three terms. He left Congress to run for the U.S. Senate in 1988 but lost narrowly (by less than 1% of the vote) to Sen. Connie Mack in a hotly contested race.
• MacKay was elected Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Governor Lawton Chiles in 1990 when they easily unseated then-Gov. Bob Martinez with 57% of the vote. But in 1994, they only narrowly defeated Jeb Bush by 51% to 49%. Chiles is term-limited and not seeking reelection.