Post # 360, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary
The Best Chief Operations Officer Florida Ever Had.
I remember meeting then-State Representative Buddy MacKay at a 'Meet and Greet,' hosted by North Miami Representative Sherman Winn in 1972. MacKay ran against lobbyist-supported Representative Don Tucker for Speaker in 1974-76. It was clear that MacKay's best chance to win the Speakership was through the large Dade Miami-Dade Delegation. The current Speaker was popular Miami Representative Dick Pettigrew who had plans to run for the State Senate in two years. The well-heeled lobbyists were noticeably absent from the meeting, which favored Tucker.
I was introduced to Representative MacKay by the powerful House Appropriations Chairman Marshall Harris, who was becoming a mentor to me. I was known as the "IBM Representative" because of my work in sales with the company. I was known as a supporter of environmental issues pending in the Legislature, many of which were sponsored by MacKay,
Later after being elected to the House, I worked with then State Senator Buddy MacKay on passing many of those environmental laws. When he was elected Lt. Governor with Governor Lawton Chiles, MacKay asked me to join their Administration.
Governor MacKay was the only person to run virtually all phases of the Chiles-MacKay Administration. He was in effect, the Chief Operations Officer for Florida. He knew more about the agencies and personnel running them than virtually anyone. When Governor Chiles passed at the very end of his term, it was only fitting that Buddy MacKay became Governor, even though it was only for a short time. Although his period of service as governor was short, President Clinton appointed him as special envoy and Ambassador to the Americas. Buddy MacKay served in the Florida House, Senate, the Federal Congress, Lt. Governor, Governor, and Ambassador to the Americas--as complete a life of public service as possible.
Governor Buddy MacKay served Florida with distinction. Rest in Peace, my friend.
Comments