American politicianFor other people named William McKinney, see William McKinney (disambiguation).

James Edward "Billy" McKinney (February 23, 1927 – July 15, 2010) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He was also the father of former Georgia congresswoman and Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.

Contents

• 1 Early life
• 2 Career
• 3 Death
• 4 References

Early life

McKinney was born in Abbeville in Wilcox County, Georgia. He attended the Atlanta public schools and Clark College, a historically black college. He became a decorated veteran of the United States Army. He was credited with integrating the Atlanta Police Department and spearheading the efforts of the Afro-American Police League.

Career

McKinney served as a Democrat in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1983 until 2002, when he ran as an Independent for Congress. In 2008 he joined the Green Party and cast delegate votes for their Presidential nominee.

McKinney was known as a politician who did not shy away from controversy. In 1981, he acted as co-chairman of the campaign of Sidney Marcus for Mayor of Atlanta. Marcus was a prominent Jewish leader; his opponent was the well-known African-American politician Andrew Young. McKinney's choice antagonized much of the African-American community in Atlanta.

His daughter Cynthia McKinney had a contentious relationship with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In 2002, when asked about his daughter using an old endor*t in her primary campaign, Billy McKinney said that the endor*t would not matter because "Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S." In that 2002 election, McKinney lost his seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, and his daughter lost her congressional seat.

Death

Billy McKinney died on July 15, 2010 at the age of 83 in his southwest Atlanta home after a long struggle with cancer. He was in hospice care. His wife Leola and friends were with him at the time of death.

A portion of Interstate 285 is known in his honor as the "James E. "Billy" McKinney Highway" between I-20 in northwest Atlanta and I-75 near *berland Mall.

References