Jim McClendon | |
---|---|
Member of the
Alabama Senate from the 11th district | |
In office November 5, 2014 – November 9, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Jerry Fielding |
Succeeded by | Lance Bell |
Member of the
Alabama House of Representatives from the 50th district | |
In office 2002 – November 5, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Marilyn Quarles |
Succeeded by | Jim Hill |
Personal details | |
Born | Mobile, Alabama | January 10, 1943
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Ellen |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater |
Birmingham–Southern College University of Houston |
Profession | Optometrist |
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.
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]
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]
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]
McClendon is married and lives on a farm in St. Clair Springs. [2]