Hernando High School
Bill McCollum went to which school from 1961 to 1962?
Bill McCollum Ira William McCollum Jr . ( born July 12 , 1944 ) is an American lawyer , politician , and member of the Republican Party . He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2001 , representing Floridas 5th congressional district , which was later redistricted to the 8th congressional district in 1993 . As a member of the House , McCollum rose to become Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference , the fifth-highest ranking position in the House Republican leadership . He voted to impeach President Bill Clinton and subsequently took a leadership role in managing Clintons trial in the Senate , which ended in acquittal . He was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 2000 , hoping to replace the retiring Republican Connie Mack III , losing to Democratic nominee Bill Nelson . McCollum ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S . Senate again in 2004 but lost to Mel Martínez . In 2006 he was elected Florida Attorney General and in 2010 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida , losing to businessman Rick Scott . Early life . Born and raised in Brooksville , Florida , McCollum graduated from Hernando High School and earned his bachelors degree and law degree from the University of Florida . While at the University of Florida , he was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame , the most prestigious honor a student leader could receive , was a member of The Board , and served as president of Florida Blue Key . McCollums professional career began in 1969 with the United States Navys Judge Advocate General Corps where he served on active duty until 1972 . McCollum was an officer for more than 23 years before retiring from the United States Naval Reserve as a Commander ( O-5 ) in the JAG Corps in 1992 . In 1973 , he entered private practice in Orlando and became involved in local politics , serving as Chairman of the Seminole County Republican Party from 1976 to 1980 . Congressional career . In 1980 McCollum was elected to the U.S . House of Representatives from a district including Walt Disney World and most of Orlando . He defeated incumbent Representative Richard Kelly in the Republican primary . While in Congress , McCollum founded the House Republican Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare , chairing it for six years . He also served three terms on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , two of which as Chairman of its Subcommittee on Human Intelligence , Analysis , and Counterintelligence . Additionally , McCollum served as Vice Chairman of the House Banking Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee , where he was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime . While serving the House , McCollum was also selected for a variety of Republican leadership positions , including three terms as Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference . McCollum gained national attention as one of 15 members selected to serve on the House Committee to Investigate the Iran-Contra Affair , and , in 1998–1999 , as one of the House Managers of President Bill Clintons impeachment trial . U.S . Senate elections . Rather than seek reelection to the House in 2000 , McCollum ran unsuccessfully for an open United States Senate seat , bringing to an end his 20-year Congressional career . McCollum ran again in 2004 , seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S . Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Bob Graham . He was defeated in the Republican primary by HUD Secretary Mel Martinez , who went on to win the seat . McCollum served as a partner with the Baker & Hostetler LLP law firm , practicing in the federal policy area . In addition to his duties as the states chief legal officer , he serves as President and Chairman of the Healthy Florida Foundation , chartered in 2002 to find consensus on long-term solutions to the nations health care system . He is a member of the North Florida Committee on Foreign Relations . He is also a board member of the James Madison Institute . Florida Attorney General . In 2006 , McCollum ran for Florida Attorney General , defeating State Senator Skip Campbell in the general election . McCollum led a group of Attorneys General in filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare . He also filed a brief in support of Arizonas immigration law . McCollum opposed the federal Stimulus bill , as well as the $20 billion federal oil fund that limited his offices ability to pursue claims against BP , and requested additional authority from the federal government to address Medicaid fraud . While Attorney General , McCollum defended Floridas ban of adoptions by homosexuals from a lawsuit , challenging the ban . McCollum hired Dr . George Rekers , a controversial clinical psychologist , to testify during the trial that heterosexual parents provide a better environment for children . The trial resulted in the overturning of the ban . When an appellate court upheld the lower court ruling , McCollum declined to appeal the case to the Supreme Court . He was also the Florida Chairman for Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign in 2008 . 2010 gubernatorial candidacy . On May 18 , 2009 , McCollum announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida . The election determined the successor of Charlie Crist who later lost his bid for a seat in the U.S . Senate . McCollum opposed federal health care mandates in Florida , decrying them as an unconstitutional tax on living , and joined with 13 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit . The majority of Florida voters opposed such a lawsuit according to polling in April 2010 . He has advocated a state constitutional amendment that would opt Florida out of Washington mandates on health care , although questions about whether such an amendment would be constitutional have been raised . On September 8 , 2009 McCollum said he supported Medicare and Medicaid programs but opposed a government-run public option for health insurance . On August 24 , 2010 , McCollum lost the Republican primary election to Rick Scott . Private sector . McCollum is currently a Director of AML Superconductivity & Magnetics , a privately held company that develops magnet-based and superconducting applications , located in Melbourne , Florida .