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John Murphy McMillan Jr. (born July 6, 1941) is an American politician who served as the 40th treasurer of Alabama. He was elected as a Republican in November 2010 to the office of Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. He was elected to a second four-year term in 2014. In 2018, McMillan won the Republican primary election for State Treasurer, and had no Democratic opposition on the general election ballot.

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 as a Democrat. 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." Recently McMillan founded the Alabama Sportsmen's Caucus 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. This fund has grown from the original investment of just over $400 million to a sum approaching $4 billion. Additionally, McMillan spearheaded the rebuilding of Gulf State Park after the widespread destruction of Hurricane Frederic.

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. 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.

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.

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.

In June 2018, McMillan won Alabama's Republican primary election for the office of State Treasurer, besting two challengers. No Democrats qualified for the primary ballot, practically guaranteeing McMillan's victory in November's general election. He resigned on September 30, 2023 to serve as the executive director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, and was replaced by his predecessor Young Boozer.

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. 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. He is known as a dedicated hunter of deer, wild turkey, and other Alabama game, and also enjoys fishing with his family. His twin brother Steve McMillan died in April 2022.

Electoral history

References

1. "Our Campaigns - AL House 095 Race - Nov 07, 1978".
2. http://wichita.bizjournals.com/gen/executive.html?excode=EB84D943B8BC4F488355E172C3BABD67
3. Clemons, Alan (April 22, 2009). "Turkey talkin' goes indoors at banquet". The Huntsville Times. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
4. ^ "Commending John McMillan, Executive Vice President of the Alabama Forestry Association, Upon His Outstanding Leadership in Promoting Forrestry". Legislature of Alabama. January 17, 2006. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
5. Alabama State Treasurer’s Office (2008) Report on the Alabama Trust Fund.
6. ^ John McMIllan, "Tax Plan Will Force Timberland Owners to Sell", Montgomery Advertiser, August 10, 2003.
7. Altman, George R. (October 23, 2008). "Alabama personnel board asks for investigation of state workers' union deal with insurance company". Press-Register. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
8. "Canvass of Results General Election November 2, 2010 (without write-in appendix)" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. p. 9. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
9. Parker, Collins (June 6, 2018). "Alabama Primary Election Results". WDEF-TV. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
10. "Home". Alabama State Treasury. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
11. "John McMillian[sic] Takes Trophy at Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt". Alabama State Parks (Press release). Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. April 17, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
12. "State Rep. Steve McMillan of Foley passes away at the age of 80". WSFA. April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
13. "Primary Election 2018 Statewide Results". Alabama Secretary of State. June 5, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart

• 1941 births
• Alabama Commissioners of Agriculture and Industries
• American hunters
• County commissioners in Alabama
• Living people
• Democratic Party members of the Alabama House of Representatives
• People from Bay Minette, Alabama
• Rhodes College alumni
• State treasurers of Alabama
• American twins
• 20th-century members of the Alabama Legislature