Connie Mack IV

Connie Mack IV
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 14th district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Porter Goss
Succeeded by Kathy Castor
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 91st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – October 9, 2003
Preceded by Debby Sanderson
Succeeded by Ellyn Bogdanoff
Personal details
Born Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV
August 12, 1967
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Ann Galuzzo (1992–2006)
Mary Bono (2007–2013)
Children Addison
Connie
Alma mater Santa Fe College
University of Florida

Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV[1] (born August 12, 1967), popularly known as Connie Mack, is the former U.S. Representative for Florida's 14th congressional district, serving from 2005 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Senate in 2012, but lost to Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.[2] He subsequently became a partner at five lobbying firms[3] and currently represents Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.[4] Mack, born in Fort Myers, Florida, is the son of former Republican U.S. Senator Connie Mack III.

Early life, education, and family

Mack was born in Fort Myers, Florida, the son of cancer prevention advocate Ludie Priscilla (née Hobbs) and former U.S. Senator Connie Mack III.[5][6] His father represented the district from 1983 to 1989 (when it was numbered as the 13th District), before serving two terms in the U.S. Senate.

Through his father, Mack is the great-grandson of Connie Mack, the manager and owner of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame; the great-grandson of Morris Sheppard, U.S. Senator and Representative from Texas; and the great-great-grandson of John Levi Sheppard, a U.S. Representative from Texas.[7]

In June 1988, Mack earned his Associate of Arts from Santa Fe Community College[8] and In 1993, Mack earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. After college, Mack became a marketing executive, working as a consultant to promote the restaurant chain Hooters.[9]

Florida House of Representatives

In 2000, incumbent Republican State Representative Debby Sanderson decided to retire to run for a seat in the Florida Senate. Mack decided to run for the open seat in the Fort Lauderdale based-91st House District. He defeated Democratic nominee Kevin Rader 56%–44%.[10] In 2002, he won re-election with 79% of the vote.[11]

Mack was Chairman of the Committee on State Administration,[12] and in his second term he became the Deputy Majority Leader.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 2003, incumbent Republican Congressman Porter Goss, who had succeeded Connie III in Congress, announced his intention to retire in order to serve as Director of the CIA. That October, Mack resigned from his seat in the State Legislature and moved back to his hometown of Fort Myers to run for the open seat.[13] Had he not resigned his state house seat, he would have been unable to vote for himself in the primary or general election in the 14th District, as the Florida Constitution requires state legislators to be residents of the district they represent. Mack stated "The people of the 14th District deserve to be represented in Washington by someone who shares our mainstream conservative Republican values in the mold of my father and Congressman Porter Goss."[14] He narrowly won a four-way Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—with a plurality of 36% of the vote, defeating more experienced challengers State Representative Carole Green and Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy.[15] He won the general election with 68% of the vote.[16]

Mack consistently won re-election with high margins, with his closest bid in 2008, when he won 59% in a three-way election.[17][18][19]

Tenure

Mack is a vocal supporter of cutting federal spending and lower taxes. He is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Additionally, he is a co-sponsor of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget and was one of the most outspoken opponents of federal bailouts. Mack was also been a prominent advocate for greater congressional oversight of government activities related to surveillance. He voted against George W. Bush's domestic eavesdropping program in 2006 and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform in 2007.[20]

Mack was an outspoken critic of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez,[21] as well as one of the most vocal opponents of the pan-Latin American TV network teleSUR.[22] He is also a member of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mack helped secure over $81 million to expand Interstate 75 in Southwest Florida, a project of significant concern to the region.

Unlike many members of Congress, Mack has been a vigorous and outspoken defender of the whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks.[23] Mack said that although WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange "are no heroes," he believes there needs to be more transparency in government, and that he opposes any "attempt to suppress information from the general public."[24]

Committee assignments

2012 U.S. Senate election

Mack speaking to a conservative group in February 2012.

Early in the election cycle, Mack was considered a potential candidate against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in the 2012 Senate election. However, he declined to run on March 25, 2011, citing family and his work in the House of Representatives.[25] On October 26, 2011, it was announced Mack had changed his mind regarding a challenge to Bill Nelson and that he would seek the Republican nomination. Mack's spokesman cited the fact that he felt no one in the current field was able to defeat Nelson.[26] His opponent in the Primary was former Representative Dave Weldon, whom Mack defeated in the primary, winning 58% of the vote. Mack was then defeated by Nelson by over one million votes.

Electoral history

U.S. House, 14th District of Florida (General Election)[27]
Year Winning candidate Party Pct Opponent Party Pct Opponent Party Pct
2004 Connie Mack IV Republican 67.6% Robert M. Neeld Democratic 32.4%
2006 Connie Mack IV (inc.) Republican 64.4% Robert M. Neeld Democratic 35.6%
2008 Connie Mack IV (inc.) Republican 59.4% Robert M. Neeld Democratic 24.8% Burt Saunders Independent 14.5%
2010 Connie Mack IV (inc.) Republican 68.6% James L. Roach Democratic 27.1% William M. St. Claire Independent 4.3%

Personal life

Mack is twice married. His wives have been:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zambo, Kristen (5 August 2006). "Mack divorce proceedings include sale of $825,000 home". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Siegel, Elyse (November 6, 2012). "Bill Nelson Projected Winner Of Florida Senate Race". Huffington Post.
  3. ↑ http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/293859-ex-rep-connie-mack-joins-lobby-firm
  4. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/20/hungary-connie-mack_n_6193522.html
  5. ↑ Biography - About Connie Mack - Congressman Connie Mack
  6. ↑ mack
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/mar/28/george-lemieux/lemieux-says-congressman-mack-took-7-12-years-fini/
  9. ↑ Connie Mack preaches penny-pinching on campaign trail, but has past of debt and liens
  10. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL State House 091 Race - Nov 07, 2000
  11. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL State House 091 Race - Nov 05, 2002
  12. ↑ Sandler, Michael (April 15, 2003). "Workers' comp bill stripped, replaced". St. Petersburg Times.
  13. ↑ Connie Mack IV to Run for U.S. House | TheLedger.com
  14. ↑ "Younger Mack to seek dad's old House seat Series: AROUND THE STATE". St. Petersburg Times. October 8, 2003.
  15. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 - R Primary Race - Aug 31, 2004
  16. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 02, 2004
  17. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 07, 2006
  18. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 04, 2008
  19. ↑ Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 02, 2010
  20. ↑ Connie Mack IV on the Issues
  21. ↑ RedState <http://www.crosstabs.org/stories/foreign_affairs/rep_mack_free_trade_is_key_to_combating_chavez>
  22. ↑ Congressman works to counter socialist air time, on Connie Mack's HOR website <http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Articles.View&ContentRecord_id=108>
  23. ↑ Levy-Baker, Cooper Rep. Mack once again stands up for WikiLeaks, Florida Independent
  24. ↑ Rahn, Will (26 December 2010). "10 Questions with Connie Mack". The Daily Caller. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  25. ↑ Smith, Adam (March 25, 2011). "Connie Mack will not run for U.S. Senate". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  26. ↑ Catanese, Dave (October 26, 2011). "Connie Mack to enter Fla. Senate Race". Politico. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  28. ↑ "Fox News, GOP House Members Mary Bono and Connie Mack Marry in North Carolina". Foxnews.com. 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2010-09-30.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Porter Goss		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 14th congressional district
2005–2013 		Succeeded by
Kathy Castor
Party political offices
Preceded by
Katherine Harris		 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Florida
(Class 1)
2012 		Most recent