Steve McMillan
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 95th district
In office
November 1980 – April 28, 2022
Preceded byJohn McMillan
Succeeded byFrances Holk-Jones
Personal details
Born
Stephen Albert McMillan

(1941-07-06)July 6, 1941
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
DiedApril 28, 2022(2022-04-28) (aged 80)
Political partyRepublican (after 1989)
Democratic (until 1989)
SpouseGayle McMillan
EducationAuburn University (BA)
ProfessionReal estate broker

Stephen Albert McMillan[1] (July 6, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American politician and real estate broker. From 1980 until his death, he was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives representing the 95th District (lower Baldwin County), first serving as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 1989.[2][3] He was first elected to succeed his twin brother, John McMillan. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives.[4]

Early life and education

McMillan was born on July 6, 1941,[5] in Mobile, Alabama.[1] He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1964.[6] He later served in the United States Army Reserve from 1964 to 1970.[7]

Career

A real estate broker by trade, McMillan owned and operated his own real estate company, McMillan & Associates.[5][8] In 1980, McMillan ran in a special election for the Alabama House of Representatives to fill the seat of his twin brother John McMillan, who vacated his seat to become the state's commissioner of conservation and natural resources.[9][10] McMillan was elected as a Democrat,[11] but switched to the Republican Party in 1989.[2][12]

In 1983, McMillan publicly supported a referendum election in unincorporated areas on Pleasure Island in Baldwin County. McMillan stated he was convinced to do so after meetings with island residents who desired increased land use control, though his earlier zoning proposals were opposed by the Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce and the committee to Protect Property Rights.[13] McMillan introduced a bill that would require a literacy test for driver's licenses in 1988, stating "I don't want people on the road who can't read road signs."[14] In 1993, McMillan suggested that voters in every county in Alabama should be able to vote on introducing electronic gambling machines, referencing a bill that had previously restricted it to just four counties.[2]

McMillan often worked with education issues during his tenure. In 1987, McMillan served as chairman of the House Education Committee; according to The Montgomery Advertiser, McMillan frequently came into conflict with Paul Hubbert from the Alabama Education Association during his chairmanship. He was also a member of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, and supported charter schools, as well as bills to remove the State Board of Education's authority over K–12 schools.[12]

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2011, McMillan was appointed by Governor Bob Riley along with two other state legislators to determine how to spend $15 million given to Baldwin County in response to the disaster.[15] In 2012, McMillan was involved in the passing of a series of laws that targeted insurance fraud in the state.[16][17] The same year, he defended a controversial immigration bill affecting Baldwin County, claiming that many of the problems that had been raised with the proposal by local farmers were actually products of inaccurate perceptions.[18] In 2014, McMillan partnered with State Senator Gerald Dial to sponsor a bill that would guarantee the right to school prayer, despite concerns of constitutionality regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Engel v. Vitale.[19]

In 2017, McMillan targeted child abuse at residential camps and schools with HB-440, working with Prichard, Alabama, police captain Charles Kennedy to increase oversight of such facilities.[20] The bill was signed into law on July 29, 2017, and received coverage in national news outlets,[21] with Vice News calling it "a rare example of increased government regulation of religion in the Trump era", as the law did not exclude religious camps from regulation.[22]

McMillan sponsored at least two bills supporting animal welfare; in 2010, he sponsored legislation that banned gas chambers as a method of euthanasia for animals,[23] and in 2021, he sponsored a bill that allowed restaurants to have outdoor dining areas for dogs, which was later signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey.[24][25]

Alabama's Fair Ballot Commission, which approves official statements explaining ballot measures that are up for vote in the state, was created in 2014 with the passage of HB-9, a bill sponsored by McMillan.[26] McMillan also helped create the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism organization, as well as the State Teacher of the Year program (alongside Ann Bedsole)[9] during his time in the state legislature.[10] Allison Marlow wrote for Gulf Coast Media in 2022 that McMillan's work in the state legislature had "a special lean towards children’s issues both in his district and across the state," referencing McMillan's work on HB-440 in particular.[21] In July 2021, McMillan announced that he would retire at the end of his term and would not seek re-election in 2022.[9]

Personal life

McMillan was married to his wife Gayle McMillan;[27] the couple have two sons,[5] and resided in Bay Minette, Alabama.[1] Former state treasurer John McMillan is his twin brother.[28]

Health and death

In January 2022, McMillan announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.[29] Three small tumors were detected in his brain, and he stated he would be undergoing treatment that month.[4] He died on April 28, 2022, aged 80.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Steve McMillan's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Poovey, Bill (June 17, 1993). "Lawmakers say no need for electronic gambling monopoly". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ Vollers, Anna Claire (July 11, 2018). "Who are Alabama's longest-serving state legislators?". AL.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Sharp, John (January 7, 2022). "Alabama's longest-serving House member seeking treatments for brain tumors". AL.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "State Representative Steve McMillan". baldwincountyal.gov. Baldwin County, Alabama. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Gov Docs: Contact Your Representatives: Alabama". University of South Alabama. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Veteran State Legislators 2021" (PDF). National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ Cloos, Paul (August 31, 2007). "Baldwin flooded with tax appeals". Press-Register. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Marlow, Allison (July 8, 2021). "Rep. Steve McMillan to retire". Gulf Coast Media. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Sell, Mary (January 7, 2022). "Rep. Steve McMillan to undergo treatment for brain tumors". Alabama Daily News. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Baldwin legislators hold public meeting". Pensacola News Journal. October 24, 1985. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Lyman, Brian (April 29, 2022). "Alabama State Rep. Steve McMillan of Bay Minette dies at 80". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ Cairns, Craig (July 14, 1983). "Island zoning proposals at issue, lawmakers look to referendum". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Student drivers might need to show they read, educators seek incentive for literacy". Pensacola News Journal. March 24, 1988. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  15. ↑ Sayre, Katherine (September 20, 2011). "Bayou La Batre city official served with federal subpoena for records". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ Altman, George (May 11, 2012). "Insurance fraud bill passes Legislature". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  17. ↑ Altman, George (May 17, 2012). "Fifth insurance bill passes Legislature". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  18. ↑ Busby, Guy (February 29, 2012). "Immigration law: Few changes expected, Baldwin County officials tell farmers". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  19. ↑ Kirby, Brendan (September 25, 2014). "Lawmakers plan student prayer bill in Alabama; concerns raised over constitutionality". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  20. ↑ Vollers, Anna Claire (April 18, 2017). "State legislators work to bring religious camps out of the shadows after child abuse trial". AL.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  21. 1 2 Marlow, Allison (January 7, 2022). "Rep. Steve McMillan announces cancer diagnosis". Gulf Coast Media. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  22. ↑ Cappello, Nile (December 6, 2017). "How Christian Reform Schools Get Away with Brutal Child Abuse". Vice News. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  23. ↑ Betowt, Yvonne (December 14, 2010). "Groups want ban on animal gas chambers". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  24. ↑ Moseley, Brandon (May 24, 2021). "Governor signs bill allowing restaurants to have dog dining areas". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  25. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (May 26, 2021). "Alabama's new dog dining law serves up the right recipe for the family pet". CBS 42. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  26. ↑ Kachmar, Kala; Lyman, Brian (January 23, 2014). "Jan. 23 in the Legislature". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  27. ↑ Brantley, Mike (August 30, 2009). "Orange Beach turns 25; Gulf Coast city was incorporated in 1984". Press-Register. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  28. ↑ Flowers, Steve (November 20, 2019). "John McMillan — a good man as state treasurer". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  29. ↑ Poole, Summer (January 7, 2022). "Alabama State Representative announces cancer diagnosis". WKRG. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  30. ↑ "State Rep. Steve McMillan of Foley passes away at the age of 80". WSFA. April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
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