John Oxendine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| John W. Oxendine |
|---|
| Born |
| April 30, 1962 (age 44) Davidson County, Tennessee |
| Insurance Commissioner, Attorney |
John Oxendine is the current Commissioner of Insurance of the U.S. state of Georgia. Oxendine, a Republican, was first elected in 1994 and reelected in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
Oxendine is the son of Gwinnett Superior Court Judge James W. Oxendine, a longtime Democratic Party activist and former professional football player, and the judge's second and now former wife, Lois. Oxendine received his law degree from Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law in 1987. He is currently married to his second wife, Ivy, and has two stepchildren. Oxendine has a son from his previous marriage, JW.
The former Judge Oxendine was never a professional football player.
[edit] Political career
[edit] Early years
Oxendine began his political life as a Democrat, serving as a student assistant to Governor George Busbee. Oxendine later worked on the campaign staff of Joe Frank Harris, who was elected Governor and appointed Oxendine as Chairman of the State Personnel Board.
[edit] Election as Insurance Commissioner
In 1993, Oxendine declared himself as a Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Labor. However, then Governor Zell Miller and other Democratic Party leaders rebuffed his candidacy, prompting Oxendine to leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican. Since there was already a Republican candidate for Commissioner of Labor, Oxendine also announced that he would instead run for Insurance Commissioner.
In the 1994 election, Oxendine opposed incumbent Democrat Tim Ryles, a controversial consumer advocate who had strained relations with the business community and his party's leadership. Oxendine chose to avoid these issues and instead presented himself as a "religious family man" via television advertisements. Helped by the Republican takeover of the House and an independent expenditure by the insurance industry, Oxendine narrowly upset Ryles, winning 50.98% of the vote.
[edit] U.S. Senate campaigns
When U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell suddenly died in 2000, Oxendine claimed that he was being "inundated" with calls urging him to run for the open Senate seat. Oxendine decided against running when Republican leaders settled on former U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly as their candidate; Mattingly was defeated by former governor Zell Miller.
In early 2003, Miller announced he would not seek reelection to the Senate, prompting Oxendine to again consider running for the seat. On January 8, 2003, Oxendine told the Atlanta Business Chronicle that "We've had countless people across the state asking us to run for the [U.S.] Senate, and I told people I was flattered by their faith in me and that I would consider it. I did consider it to the point of commissioning a poll and the results were every encouraging. It turned out I am one of the best-known and liked politicians in the state." However, after Congressman Johnny Isakson announced his candidacy a month later, Oxendine removed himself from the race saying that he had a "commitment to family and serving out his term as Insurance Commissioner" that would prevent him from running.
[edit] Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
In early 2004, Oxendine announced his intent to run for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia in 2006. The announcement met with disapproval from Republican leaders, who felt that his candidacy was premature and was a distraction during the 2004 elections; nevertheless, Oxendine raised approximately $500,000 for his campaign by the end of 2004. In February of 2005, after State Senator Casey Cagle and Christian political consultant Ralph Reed joined the race for Lieutenant Governor, Oxendine released polling data showing that he led his two opponents. and reiterated his intent to remain in the race. However, Oxendine withdrew from the race two weeks later and announced that he would run for reelection as Insurance Commissioner instead. Speculation by some observers that Oxendine was leaving open a return to the Lieutenant Governor's race ended when qualifying ended on April 28, 2006. Oxendine later endorsed Cagle, saying that Reed would hurt the ticket.
[edit] 2006 campaign
- See also: Georgia statewide elections, 2006
Although Oxendine was generally regarded as likely to win reelection as Insurance Commissioner, he faced a significant challenge from Democratic attorney Guy Drexinger. Several other candidates who had considered entering the race amid speculation about Oxendine's plans did not qualify. Drexinger raised substantial funds and was considered to be Oxendine's strongest challenger since Oxendine defeated Ryles in 1994. Georgia seemed almost immune from the anti-Republican sentiment that was prevalent across the rest of the nation. Oxendine soundly defeated Drexinger with 65.6% of the vote and winning 153 of Georgia's 159 counties, including normally Democratic leaning Fulton, Athens-Clarke, Augusta-Richmond and Doughtery Counties. Oxenine's margin was the largest among the Republicans running statewide and has further fueled speculation within the Republican Party on Oxendine's future plans.
[edit] Future ambitions
With Governor Sonny Perdue term limited in 2010, Oxendine has suggested that he may run for Governor or the U.S. Senate after 2006.
[edit] Controversies
In 2002, Oxendine violated an automobile purchasing moratorium ordered by then Governor Roy Barnes and issued himself Crown Victoria with a luxury upgrade package and other optional features. In 2003, newly-elected governor Sonny Perdue appointed General James Sehorn as Inspector General to investigate the purchase. An investigative report by the Inspector General accused Oxendine of misusing government funds and directed that he should repay the funds used to the state. Oxendine complied with Sehorn's demand, although he continued to deny wrongdoing in the incident.
[edit] External links
- Official John Oxendine campaign website
- Georgia Department of Insurance website
- New Georgia Encyclopedia.
| Preceded by Tim Ryles |
Commissioner of Insurance 1995 - Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
