Mac Collins
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Mac Collins

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Mac Collins

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.

Collins 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 the first woman to serve on the Flovilla, Georgia, city council. He attended public schools throughout his youth. He served in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1964 to 1970.

Collins began his political career in 1977, when he was elected to the Butts County Commission. 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. 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.

During 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.

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.

In 1994, Collins defeated Democrat Fred Overby 66%-34%.

In 1996, he defeated Democrat Jim Chafin 61%-39%.

In 1998, he ran unopposed for reelection.

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