John McMillan (Alabama politician)

John McMillan
29th Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries
Assumed office
January 17, 2011
Governor Robert Bentley
Preceded by Ron Sparks
Personal details
Born Bay Minette, Alabama, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kathryn McMillan
Children Murphy
William
Alma mater Rhodes College

John Murphy McMillan, Jr. is a prominent Alabama leader in forestry, agriculture, and natural resource and wildlife conservation. He was elected as a Republican in November 2010, as Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. He was elected to a second four-year term in 2014.

Political career

McMillan served as a Baldwin County Commissioner and as an Alabama state representative (elected in 1974 and 1978) representing Baldwin and Mobile counties. While in the Alabama state legislature McMillan chaired the Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Committee and was selected twice as the Alabama Wildlife Federation's "Conservation Legislator of the Year."[1] Recently McMillan founded the Alabama Sportsmen's Caucus[2] to serve as an advocate group for the outdoors business industry and for the rights of hunters, gun owners, and fishermen.

McMillan served as the Alabama State Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources in the first administration of Gov. Fob James (1980–1983). As Commissioner, McMillan won widespread praise for his part in the creation of the Alabama Trust Fund (originally called the Alabama Heritage Trust Fund), a plan to save the receipts from leases of offshore oil operations.[3] This fund has grown from the original investment of just over $400 million to a sum approaching $4 billion.[4] Additionally, McMillan spearheaded the rebuilding of Gulf State Park after the widespread destruction of Hurricane Frederick.[3]

McMillan is the former chief executive (1985–2006) of the Alabama Forestry Association where he was a leader in the successful fight to defeat the Amendment One Tax Increase of 2003.[5] As the head of this powerful statewide association, McMillan became known as an advocate for the rights of property owners and a consistent opponent of property tax increases.[5]

McMillan was named to the Alabama State Personnel Board by Governor Fob James during the 1990s and reappointed to a second term by Governor Bob Riley. On the State Personnel Board McMillan has played a leading role in investigating alleged "kickbacks" to state employee union bosses.[6]

On November 2, 2010, McMillan defeated Democrat Glen Zorn for the post of Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. McMillan received 862,901 votes to Zorn's 583,255.[7]

Education and personal life

John McMillan is a native of rural Stockton, Alabama, where he worked as a boy (and as a young man after returning from college ) on his uncle's farm and in his father's sawmill. McMillan is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis.[3] McMillan and his wife Kathryn have two grown sons, Murphy and William, and two grandchildren. McMillan is an avid outdoorsman who won the Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt in 2006.[8] He is known as a dedicated hunter of deer, wild turkey, and other Alabama game, and also enjoys fishing with his family.

Electoral history

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John McMillan 151,177 36.53
Republican Dorman Grace 145,524 35.17
Republican Dale Peterson 117,091 28.30
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Republican Primary Runoff Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John McMillan 216,824 51.90
Republican Dorman Grace 200,595 48.10
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John McMillan 862,901 59.61
Democratic Glen Zorn 583,255 40.29
Write-ins Write-ins 1,405 0.10
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John McMillan (inc.) 734,428 64.67
Democratic Doug "New Blue" Smith 400,299 35.25
Write-ins Write-ins 970 0.10

References

  1. ↑ http://wichita.bizjournals.com/gen/executive.html?excode=EB84D943B8BC4F488355E172C3BABD67
  2. ↑ http://www.al.com/outdoors/huntsvilletimes/aclemons.ssf?/base/sports/1240391712127260.xml&coll=1
  3. 1 2 3 http://www.legislature.state.al.us/searchableInstruments/2006RS/Resolutions/HR74.htm
  4. ↑ Alabama State Treasurer’s Office (2008) Report on the Alabama Trust Fund.
  5. 1 2 John McMIllan, "Tax Plan Will Force Timberland Owners to Sell", Montgomery Advertiser, August 10, 2003.
  6. ↑ http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1224753395117980.xml&coll=3
  7. ↑ http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2010/general/2010GeneralResults-AllStateAndFederalOfficesAndAmendments-withoutWrite-inAppendix.pdf
  8. ↑ http://www.alapark.com/press/release.cfm?ID=397
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