Mac Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mac Collins
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Ray |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Westmoreland |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1993–2003) 3rd district (2003–2005) |
| Member of the Georgia Senate from the 17th district |
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| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 |
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| 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 |
| Children | 4, including Mike |
Michael Allen "Mac" Collins (October 15, 1944 – November 20, 2018) was an American businessman and politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. Mac Collins served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia from 1993 to 2005.
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Early Life and Business
Mac Collins was born in Jackson, Georgia, on October 15, 1944. After finishing high school, he started working with his father. They had a business that made concrete products. Mac helped the business grow into a company that made ready-mix concrete.
His mother was also involved in local government. She was the first woman to serve on the city council in Flovilla, Georgia. Mac attended public schools when he was young. He also served in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970.
Starting in Georgia Politics
Mac Collins began his political journey in 1977. He was elected to the Butts County Commission. His fellow commissioners immediately chose him as their chairman. He served two terms in this role.
In 1980, he changed his political party. He switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. After trying twice, he was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1988. He represented a district south of Atlanta in Henry County, Georgia. He served two terms as a state senator.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Mac Collins became a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1993. He represented Georgia's 3rd district first, and later the 8th district. He served in Congress until 2005.
Winning Elections
In 1992, Mac Collins ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the Republican primary election. Then, he defeated the sitting Democrat, Richard Ray, in the main election. He won by a good margin.
He continued to win his re-election campaigns. In 1994, he won against Democrat Fred Overby. In 1996, he defeated Democrat Jim Chafin. In 1998, he ran for re-election without anyone running against him. In 2000, he won against Democrat Gail Notti.
After new district maps were drawn in 2000, Collins was placed in the 8th District. In 2002, he won his re-election easily. He had the biggest win of his career that year. In 2004, he decided not to run for his House seat again. Instead, he chose to run for the U.S. Senate. Lynn Westmoreland took his place in the House.
Work in Congress
While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mac Collins had important roles. He was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. This committee deals with taxes and other money-related issues. He also served as a Deputy Whip for the Republican Party. This role helps make sure party members vote together.
The Speaker of the House also chose him for a special committee. This was the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This committee handles highly secret information about national security.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Mac Collins had a disagreement with President George W. Bush. He told the President he would not support creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Because of this, he lost his role as Deputy Whip.
Mac Collins helped pass two important bills. One bill named a federal building and courthouse in Newnan, Georgia, after Lewis R. Morgan. The other bill changed how life insurance benefits are paid out to families. He focused on topics like business, tax changes, and international trade.
Later Political Campaigns
After leaving the House, Mac Collins ran for other political offices.
2004 U.S. Senate Campaign
In 2004, Mac Collins ran for a seat in the United States Senate. This seat was open because Senator Zell Miller was retiring. Mac Collins was one of the Republican candidates. However, Johnny Isakson won the Republican primary election. Isakson then went on to win the general election for the Senate seat.
2006 U.S. House Campaign
In 2006, Mac Collins tried to return to Congress. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives again. This time, he ran in a different district. The election was very close. President George W. Bush even attended a rally to support Collins. However, Jim Marshall narrowly won the election by about 1,700 votes.
Personal Life and Passing
Mac Collins was a Christian. He was married to his wife, Julie Watkins, for 54 years. They had four children together. One of their children, Mike Collins, is also a U.S. Representative for Georgia.
Mac Collins passed away on November 20, 2018. He was 74 years old and died in Flovilla, Georgia.
