Jim McClendon

Jim McClendon (born January 10, 1943)[1] is an American optometrist and politician. A Republican, he has served as a member of the Alabama State Senate from the 11th District since November 5, 2014 and was previously a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, where he represented the 50th District from 2002 to 2014.

Jim McClendon
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 11th district
In office
November 5, 2014 – November 9, 2022
Preceded byJerry Fielding
Succeeded byLance Bell
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 50th district
In office
2002 – November 5, 2014
Preceded byMarilyn Quarles
Succeeded byJim Hill
Personal details
Born (1943-01-10) January 10, 1943
Mobile, Alabama
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEllen
Children2
Alma materBirmingham–Southern College
University of Houston
ProfessionOptometrist

Early life and education

McClendon was born in Mobile, studied as an undergraduate at Birmingham Southern College,[2] and earned a bachelor's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston.[1] He served in the United States Navy Medical Service Corps in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971.[1][2]

Career

After his military service, McClendon taught clinical optometry at the University of Alabama, Birmingham and then entered private practice. He has been president of the Alabama Optometric Association.[2]

Political career

In November 2002 McClendon defeated Democrat Marilyn Quarles in the 50th District for election to the Alabama House of Representatives;[3] he represented the district for three terms, until 2014.[4] In November 2014 he was elected to represent the 11th District in the State Senate,[5] and has held that position since January 2015; he was re-elected in 2018.[6]

In 2016 and 2019, he put forward a state lottery, a perennial legislative proposal that would require an amendment to the state constitution.[7][8]

In May 2019, he voted for the Human Life Protection Act, which makes abortion a crime in the state at any stage in a pregnancy, with no exemptions for rape or incest.[9] Later that month, McClendon said on the Matt and Aunie morning radio show that cancer patients can just buy marijuana on the street if they need it.[10]

Personal life

McClendon is married and lives on a farm in St. Clair Springs.[2]

References
  1. "Sen. Jim McClendon (R-AL 11th District)". The Alabama Legislature. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  2. "Sen. Jim McClendon (R): 11th District (St. Clair, Talladega, & Shelby Co.)". Shelby County, Alabama: Legislative Delegation Office. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  3. "Curry, Hill win". Shelby County Reporter. November 5, 2002.
  4. Manning, Elizabeth (June 3, 2014). "McClendon ousts Fielding in Senate District 11". The Anniston Star. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. McCarty, Sarah (November 4, 2014). "Republican Jim McClendon wins Alabama Senate District 11 seat". AL.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  6. "Election Results: Alabama General Election". WBRC. November 6, 2018.
  7. "Alabama senator announces lottery plan". AL.com. March 19, 2019.
  8. Lyman, Brian (April 23, 2019). "Alabama Senate committee narrowly approves lottery bill". Montgomery Advertiser.
  9. Durkin, Erin; Benwell, Max (15 May 2019). "These 25 white men – all Republicans – just voted to ban abortion in Alabama". The Guardian.
  10. Wilson, Brent (May 20, 2019). "AL Sen. Jim McClendon: Cancer Patients Can Just Get Marijuana On The Streets If They Need It". Bamapolitics.com.


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