Michael Allen "Mac" Collins (October 15, 1944 – November 20, 2018) was an American businessman and politician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005, representing Georgia's 8th congressional district (previously Georgia's 3rd congressional district from 1993 to 2003). In 2004, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate.
Mac Collins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Ray |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Westmoreland |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1993–2003) 8th district (2003–2005) |
| Member of the Georgia Senate from the 17th district | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Crumbley |
| Succeeded by | Mike Crotts |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Allen Collins October 15, 1944 Jackson, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | November 20, 2018 (aged 74) Flovilla, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1980) Republican (1980–2018) |
| Spouse | Julie Watkins[1] |
| Children | 4, including Mike |
Early life
editCollins was born in Jackson, Georgia, and joined a concrete products business run by his father after graduating from high school, eventually expanding it into a ready-mix concrete company. His mother was first woman to serve on the Flovilla, Georgia, city council.[2] He attended public schools throughout his youth. He served in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970.[3]
Georgia politics and State Senator
editCollins began his political career in 1977, when he was elected to the Butts County Commission.[3] He was immediately elected chairman by his colleagues and served two terms, giving up his seat in 1980 when he switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.[4] After losing two elections for Georgia State Senate, he was elected in 1988 from a district in Henry County south of Atlanta and served two terms there.[5]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElectoral history
editDuring the 1990s round of redistricting, Democrats in the Georgia state legislature, bent on getting rid of Newt Gingrich, dismantled his old 6th District. The new map shifted much of Gingrich's former territory south of Atlanta—including Collins's home—to the 3rd District, which at the time was based in Columbus and represented by five-term Democrat Richard Ray.[6]
Collins immediately jumped into the race. In 1992, he defeated Paul Broun (who would later be elected to Congress from the 10th District) in the Republican primary and then defeated Ray in the general election by almost 10 points.[7]
In 1994, Collins defeated Democrat Fred Overby 66%-34%.[7]
In 1996, he defeated Democrat Jim Chafin 61%-39%.
In 1998, he ran unopposed for reelection.[8]
In 2000, he defeated Democrat Gail Notti 63%-37%.[9]
After the 2000 redistricting cycle, Collins was placed in the 8th District. In 2002, he easily won re-election by the widest margin of his career over Democrat Angelos Petrakopoulos, 78%-22%.[10]
In 2004, he declined to run for re-election, opting to run for U.S. Senate. Lynn Westmoreland succeeded him representing the 8th District.
Congressional Record
editIn the United States House of Representatives, Collins was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Deputy Whip for the Republican Party, and was selected by the Speaker of the House to serve on the highly-classified United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He lost his role as Deputy Whip of the United States House of Representatives after the September 11 attacks in 2001 when he informed President George W. Bush that he would not support the creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Collins was a sponsor in the passage of two bills. The first, H.R. 1121, designated the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 18 Greenville Street in Newnan, Georgia, as the “Lewis R. Morgan Federal Building and United States Courthouse”.[11] The second, H.R. 1316, amended chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to the order of precedence to be applied in the payment of life insurance benefits.[11]
Collins was focused on commerce, tax reform, foreign trade and international finance, and technology legislation.[12]
Later political career
edit2004 United States Senate campaign
editIn 2004, Collins was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of Senator Zell Miller; it went to Johnny Isakson, who won the Republican primary. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Isakson had 53% of votes, followed by Herman Cain with 26% and Collins with 21%. Isakson went on to win the general election against Democratic Congresswoman Denise Majette.[13]
2006 campaign for U.S. House of Representatives
editIn 2006, Collins moved back to Butts County and made an attempt to return to Congress against Democrat Jim Marshall. This district included none of the territory Collins represented in his first five terms, but three counties that he represented in his last after a mid-decade Republican redistricting. It made for one of the most competitive House races in the nation. he race featured heavy spending, not only by the candidates themselves, but from independent groups. During the campaign, President George W. Bush attended a rally to try to help Collins.[14] Marshall narrowly won reelection by 1,700 votes, 50.5%–49.5%.[15]
Personal life and death
editCollins was a Christian and was married to his wife for 54 years. They had four children including Mike Collins who is a U.S. representative for Georgia's 10th congressional district.
Collins died on November 20, 2018, in Flovilla, Georgia, at age 74.[1][16]
References
edit- ^ a b Hallerman, Tamar (November 20, 2018). "Former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, a GOP pioneer in Georgia, dies at 74". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "Obituary for Michael Allen (Mac) Collins at Haisten Funeral Home".
- ^ a b "COLLINS, Michael Allen (Mac)". History, Art & Archives U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "Mac Collins, Who Represented Georgia for 12 Years in the House, Dead at 74". Roll Call. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ "Mac Collins papers, Georgia State Senate". University of West Georgia Special Collections.
- ^ Applebome, Peter (September 10, 1991). "Democrats Try to Carve Gingrich Out". New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "1994 General Election Results U.S. Congress - 3rd District". Georgia Secretary of State Election Results. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Georgia Primary Results -- July 21, 1998". CNN. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Georgia District 03 2000 Race". Open Secrets. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Rep. Mac Collins - Georgia District 08". Open Secrets. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "H.R. 1316 (105th): To amend chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to the order of precedence to be applied in the payment of life insurance benefits". govtrack. June 18, 1998. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Rep. Michael "Mac" Collins". govtrack. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ Pettys, Dick (July 21, 2004). "Isakson Wins GOP Primary For Georgia's Senate Seat". The Washington Post.
- ^ "PRESIDENT BUSH SPEAKS AT REPUBLICAN ELECTION RALLY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA". Alamy. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - GA - District 08 Race - Nov 07, 2006". www.ourcampaigns.com.
- ^ "Former Commissioner and Congressman Mac Collins Passes". Butts County Georgia Website. November 25, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2022.