Connie Mack IV

Mack was born in Fort Myers, Florida, the son of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack III and cancer prevention advocate Ludie Priscilla (née Hobbs).[http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?p=Biography Biography – About Connie Mack – Congressman Connie Mack] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020114758/http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?p=Biography |date=2011-10-20 }}{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/mack.htm|title=mack|work=ancestry.com|access-date=2012-01-01|archive-date=2016-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109134125/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/mack.htm|url-status=dead}} His father represented the district from 1983 to 1989 (when it was numbered as the 13th District), before serving two terms in the U.S. Senate.

Through his father, Mack is the great-grandson of Cornelius McGillicuddy ("Connie Mack"), the manager and owner of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame; the great-grandson of Morris Sheppard, U.S. Senator and Representative from Texas; and the great-great-grandson of John Levi Sheppard, a U.S. Representative from Texas.{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Spouses.htm |title= U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > Origins & Development > Senate Spouses|website=www.senate.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040307193148/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Senate_Spouses.htm |archive-date=March 7, 2004}}

In June 1988, Mack earned his Associate of Arts from Santa Fe Community College{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/mar/28/george-lemieux/lemieux-says-congressman-mack-took-7-12-years-fini/|title=George LeMieux says Connie Mack 'took 7 1/2 years to finish college'|work=@politifact}} and In 1993, Mack earned his Bachelor of Arts{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/meet-connie-mack-iv-who-says-hes-a-proud-mainstream-conservative/1258812/|title=Meet Connie Mack IV, who says he's a 'proud, mainstream conservative'|date=2012-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531012722/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/meet-connie-mack-iv-who-says-hes-a-proud-mainstream-conservative/1258812|archive-date=2016-05-31|url-status=live|access-date=2018-07-26}} from the University of Florida. After college, Mack became a marketing executive, working as a consultant to promote the restaurant chain Hooters.{{cite web|author=Caputo, Marc|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/connie-mack-preaches-penny-pinching-on-campaign-trail-but-has-past-of-debt/1215899/|title=Connie Mack preaches penny-pinching on campaign trail, but has past of debt and liens|work=Miami Herald|date=February 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602182733/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/17/v-fullstory/2646785/connie-mack-preaches-penny-pinching.html|archive-date=June 2, 2012|url-status=live}} Note: Archived link only works with JavaScript disabled. The Miami Herald blog Naked Politics also has primary source documents linked in this story, "[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/02/connie-mack-preaches-penny-pinching-but-has-a-court-record-past-of-debt-and-liens-and-fights.html Connie Mack preaches penny-pinching, but has a court-record past of debt and liens (and fights)]."

In 2000, incumbent Republican State Representative Debby Sanderson decided to retire to run for a seat in the Florida Senate. Mack decided to run for the open seat in the Fort Lauderdale–based 91st House District. He defeated Democratic nominee Kevin Rader 56%–44%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=32978|title=Our Campaigns - FL State House 091 Race - Nov 07, 2000|work=ourcampaigns.com}} In 2002, he won re-election with 79% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5574|title=Our Campaigns - FL State House 091 Race - Nov 05, 2002|work=ourcampaigns.com}}

Mack was Chairman of the Committee on State Administration, and in his second term he became the Deputy Majority Leader.{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/324697881.html?dids=324697881:324697881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+15%252C+2003&author=MICHAEL+SANDLER&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Workers%2527+comp+bill+stripped%252C+replaced&pqatl=google | work=St. Petersburg Times | first=Michael | last=Sandler | title=Workers' comp bill stripped, replaced | date=April 15, 2003 | access-date=July 5, 2017 | archive-date=July 25, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725020921/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/324697881.html?dids=324697881:324697881&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+15%252C+2003&author=MICHAEL+SANDLER&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Workers%2527+comp+bill+stripped%252C+replaced&pqatl=google | url-status=dead }}

In 2003, incumbent Republican Congressman Porter Goss announced his intention to retire in order to serve as Director of the CIA. That October, Mack resigned from the Florida Legislature and moved back to his hometown of Fort Myers to run for his father's old seat.{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031010/NEWS/310100370/1004|title=Connie Mack IV to Run for U.S. House|work=TheLedger.com}} Had he not resigned his state house seat, he would have been unable to vote for himself in the primary or general election in the 14th District, as the Florida Constitution requires state legislators to be residents of the district they represent. Mack stated, "The people of the 14th District deserve to be represented in Washington by someone who shares our mainstream conservative Republican values in the mold of my father and Congressman Porter Goss".{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/420489811.html?dids=420489811:420489811&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+08%252C+2003&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Younger+Mack+to+seek+dad%2527s+old+House+seat+Series%253A+AROUND+THE+STATE&pqatl=google | work=St. Petersburg Times | title=Younger Mack to seek dad's old House seat Series: AROUND THE STATE | date=October 8, 2003 | access-date=July 5, 2017 | archive-date=July 24, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724231101/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampabay/access/420489811.html?dids=420489811:420489811&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+08%252C+2003&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Younger+Mack+to+seek+dad%2527s+old+House+seat+Series%253A+AROUND+THE+STATE&pqatl=google | url-status=dead }} He narrowly won a four-way Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—with a plurality of 36% of the vote, defeating more experienced challengers State Representative Carole Green and Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4619|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 - R Primary Race - Aug 31, 2004|work=ourcampaigns.com}} He won the general election with 68% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4084|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 02, 2004|work=ourcampaigns.com}}

Mack consistently won re-election without serious difficulty, with his closest bid in 2008, when he won 59% in a three-way election.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=206813|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 07, 2006|work=ourcampaigns.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=334540|title=Our Campaigns - FL - District 14 Race - Nov 04, 2008|work=ourcampaigns.com}}[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=488476 Our Campaigns – FL – District 14 Race – Nov 02, 2010]

Mack is a vocal supporter of cutting federal spending and lower taxes. He is a signer of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Additionally, he is a co-sponsor of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget and was one of the most outspoken opponents of federal bailouts. Mack has also been a prominent advocate for greater congressional oversight of government surveillance. He voted against George W. Bush's domestic eavesdropping program in 2006 and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform in 2007.[http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Connie_Mack_IV.htm Connie Mack IV on the Issues]

Mack was an outspoken critic of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez,RedState <{{cite web |url=http://www.crosstabs.org/stories/foreign_affairs/rep_mack_free_trade_is_key_to_combating_chavez |title=Rep. Connie Mack: Free Trade is Key to Combating Chavez | Redstate |access-date=2008-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905214927/http://www.crosstabs.org/stories/foreign_affairs/rep_mack_free_trade_is_key_to_combating_chavez |archive-date=2012-09-05 }}> as well as one of the most vocal opponents of the Latin American television network teleSUR.Congressman works to counter socialist air time, on Connie Mack's HOR website <{{cite web |url=http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Articles.View&ContentRecord_id=108 |title=United States Congressman Connie Mack :: Articles |access-date=2009-02-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216084137/http://mack.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Articles.View&ContentRecord_id=108 |archive-date=2009-02-16 }}> He is also a member of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mack helped secure over $81 million to expand Interstate 75 in Southwest Florida, a project of significant concern to the region.

Unlike many members of Congress, Mack has been a vigorous and outspoken defender of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.Levy-Baker, Cooper [http://floridaindependent.com/16533/rep-connie-mack-once-again-stands-up-for-wikileaks Rep. Mack once again stands up for WikiLeaks] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120720082248/http://floridaindependent.com/16533/rep-connie-mack-once-again-stands-up-for-wikileaks |date=2012-07-20 }}, Florida Independent

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
• Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere (Chairman)
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
• Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy
• Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management (Vice Chair)
• Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending

File:Connie Mack by Gage Skidmore.jpg

{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Florida}}

Early in the election cycle, Mack was considered a potential candidate against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in the 2012 Senate election. However, he declined to run on March 25, 2011, citing family and his work in the House of Representatives.{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/connie-mack-will-not-run-for-us-senate/1159566|title=Connie Mack will not run for U.S. Senate|date=March 25, 2011|access-date=March 25, 2011|work=St. Petersburg Times|first=Adam|last=Smith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824211133/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/connie-mack-will-not-run-for-us-senate/1159566|archive-date=August 24, 2011|url-status=dead}} On October 26, 2011, it was announced Mack had changed his mind and that he would seek the Republican nomination because he felt no one in the current field was able to defeat Nelson.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/1011/Connie_Mack_to_enter_Fla_Senate_race.html?showall|title=Connie Mack to enter Fla. Senate Race|date=October 26, 2011|access-date=October 26, 2011|work=Politico|first=Dave|last=Catanese}} His opponent in the primary was former Representative Dave Weldon, whom Mack defeated, winning 58% of the vote. Mack then lost to Nelson by over one million votes.

{{Election box begin no change| title=Florida's 14th Congressional District Election (2004)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Connie Mack IV

|votes = 226,662

|percentage = 67.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert M. Neeld

|votes = 108,672

|percentage = 32.41

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 335,334

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=Florida's 14th Congressional District Election (2006)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Connie Mack IV*

|votes = 151,615

|percentage = 64.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert M. Neeld

|votes = 83,920

|percentage = 35.63

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 235,535

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=Florida's 14th Congressional District Election (2008)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Connie Mack IV*

|votes = 224,602

|percentage = 59.44

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Robert M. Neeld

|votes = 93,590

|percentage = 24.77

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Burt Saunders

|votes = 54,750

|percentage = 14.49

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Jeff George

|votes = 4,949

|percentage = 1.31

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 377,891

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=Florida's 14th Congressional District Election (2010)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Connie Mack IV*

|votes = 188,341

|percentage = 68.57

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = James Lloyd Roach

|votes = 74,525

|percentage = 27.13

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = William Maverick St. Claire

|votes = 11,825

|percentage = 4.31

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 274,691

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing|

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2012 U.S. Senate, Republican primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Connie Mack IV

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 657,331

| percentage = 58.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Dave Weldon

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 226,083

| percentage = 20.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mike McCalister

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 155,421

| percentage = 13.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Marielena Stuart

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 81,808

| percentage = 7.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,120,643

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election in Florida, 2012{{cite web | url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/DetailRpt.Asp?ELECTIONDATE=11/6/2012&RACE=USS&PARTY=&DIST=&GRP=&DATAMODE= | title=November 6, 2012 General Election }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Bill Nelson (incumbent)

| votes = 4,523,451

| percentage = 55.23%

| change = -5.07%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Connie Mack IV

| votes = 3,458,267

| percentage = 42.23%

| change = +4.13%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Bill Gaylor

| votes = 126,079

| percentage = 1.54%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Chris Borgia

| votes = 82,089

| percentage = 1.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

| votes = 60

| percentage = 0.0

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 8,189,946

| percentage = 100.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

In 2013, Mack was hired as a partner at lobbying firm Liberty Partners Group, where his father was a chairman emeritus.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/147607-former-rep-connie-mack-joins-lobby-firm/|title=Former Rep. Connie Mack joins lobby firm|work=The Hill|date=15 April 2013}} Following his unsuccessful bid for the Senate, Mack founded two lobbying and consulting firms, Mack Strategies and Liberty International Group. In March 2014, he registered to become a lobbyist for American Task Force Argentina. As of September 2014, he was an executive vice president of public relations firm Levick as well as a registered lobbyist for Levick, Doral Financial and Las Vegas Sands.{{cite news|last1=Ho|first1=Catherine|title=Crisis communications firm Levick continues push to grow lobbying business, hires former Fla. congressman|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/former-fla-congressman-connie-mack-iv-joins-crisis-pr-firm-levick/2014/09/26/4905d5e4-4409-11e4-9a15-137aa0153527_story.html|access-date=17 August 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 28, 2014}} Mack considered entering Florida's 19th congressional district special election in 2014 to replace Trey Radel but, in January 2014, officially declined to enter the race.{{cite news|last1=Singer|first1=Paul|date=January 29, 2014|title=No comeback for Connie Mack|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2014/01/29/no-comeback-for-connie-mack/81544754/|access-date=30 September 2021}}

Mack has also worked extensively as a lobbyist for the government of Hungary.{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/20/hungary-connie-mack_n_6193522.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Diplomatic Dust-Up Means Big Bucks For Former GOP Congressman Connie Mack IV | date=November 20, 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Goad|first1=Ben|title=Hungary taps ex-congressman as US spokesman|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/253909-hungary-taps-ex-congressman-as-us-spokesman/|access-date=17 August 2016|work=The Hill|date=16 September 2015}} In December 2020, Mack joined Platinum Advisors DC to lobby in support of increased humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia.{{Cite web|last=Oprysko|first=Caitlin|title=Who is lobbying in the Ethiopia conflict as Coons heads to Addis Ababa|url=https://politi.co/3vI64Bn|access-date=2021-10-11|website=POLITICO|date=19 March 2021 |language=en}} In 2017, he was accused of holding a "sham hearing" in the U.S. Capitol on behalf of a Ukrainian television studio.{{cite web | url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2017/10/02/report-former-us-rep-connie-mack-swindled-congressman-into-holding-fake-hearing-for-ukrainian-tv/ | title=Report: Former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack duped congressman into holding fake hearing for Ukrainian TV }}

In 1992, Mack was involved in a bar fight with professional baseball player Ron Gant in Georgia. Mack suffered a broken ankle in the fight but a jury ultimately found that Gant was not liable for Mack's injuries.{{cite news |last1=Calcaterra |first1=Craig |title=That time Ron Gant and Connie Mack got into a bar fight |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2012/02/21/that-time-ron-gant-and-connie-mack-got-into-a-bar-fight/ |access-date=30 September 2021 |publisher=NBC Sports |date=February 21, 2012}}{{cite news |title=No Damages Awarded in Gant Case |url=https://apnews.com/article/26c05c9554dae98567b4a7ea3e36de3a |access-date=30 September 2021 |work=Associated Press |date=December 19, 1997}}

Mack and Ann Galluzzo were married in 1996 and divorced in 2006. They have a son named Connie Mack V and a daughter named Addison Mack.

In 2007, while representing his Florida district in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mack married then-U.S. Representative from California Mary Bono (R-CA), former wife of Glenn Baxley and widow of Sonny Bono.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-03-20/biogen-htc-boston-mit-mary-bono-intellectual-property|title = Biogen, HTC, Boston, MIT, Mary Bono: Intellectual Property|last = Slind-Flor|first = Victoria|date = March 20, 2013|work = Bloomberg Business}} They were the third married couple to serve in the House of Representatives simultaneously.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2013/05/29/connie-mack-and-mary-bono-divorce-life-really-changed-after-elections-losses/ |title=Mary Bono and Connie Mack divorce: 'Life really changed' after election losses |date=2021-12-02 |orig-date=2013-05-29 |author1=The Reliable Source |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}} Mack and Bono divorced in 2013.{{Cite news|url = http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/connie-mary-bono-mack-divorce-91883.html|title = Connie, Mary Bono Mack divorcing|last = Edwards|first = Breanna|date = May 24, 2013|work = Politico}} He married Jennifer Key, an international development expert, in 2018. They have a son named William Arthur McGillicuddy.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101001003314/http%3A//conniemack.com/ |title=Connie Mack official campaign site |date=2010-10-01}}
• {{C-SPAN|1013040}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio=m001155 | votesmart=53996 | fec=H4FL14059 | congress=connie-mack/1776 }}

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{{s-par|us-hs}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 14th congressional district|years=2005–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=Kathy Castor}}

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{{s-bef|before=Katherine Harris}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Florida}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
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{{U.S. Florida Representatives}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mack, Connie 4}}

Category:1967 births

Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature

Category:Living people

Connie 4

Category:Opposition to Hugo Chávez

Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida

Category:Spouses of California politicians

Category:University of Florida alumni

Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists

Category:Santa Fe College alumni

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives