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Max Burns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theGeorgia State Senate from the 23rd district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Jesse Stone |
| President ofGordon State College | |
| In office January 2012 – December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Shelly Nickel |
| Succeeded by | Kirk Nooks |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's12th district | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | John Barrow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (1948-11-08)November 8, 1948 (age 76) Millen, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lora Burns |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Georgia Institute of Technology (BS) Georgia State University (MBA,DBA) |
Othell Maxie Burns Jr. (born November 8, 1948) is an American politician and academic from thestate ofGeorgia. A member of theRepublican Party, Burns has represented the 23rd district in theGeorgia State Senate since January 2021. He previously served in theUnited States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2005, representingGeorgia's 12th congressional district. From 2012 to 2017 he was the president ofGordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia.[1]
Max Burns was born inMillen, Georgia. Burns received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from theGeorgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in information systems fromGeorgia State University and aDoctor of Business Administration fromGeorgia State University.[2]
Burns also served as a member of theUnited States Army Reserve from 1973 to 1981. He served as a member of theScreven County Commission from 1993 to 1998 and as chairman towards the end of his tenure.
Prior to his tenure in Congress, he was a professor of information systems atGeorgia Southern University's College of Business Administration inStatesboro, Georgia. Burns was also a Senior Fulbright Scholar, teaching Corporate Information Management in Sweden. He has also taught in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Burns has also worked as a consultant toGulfstream Aerospace andGrinnell Mechanical Products. He also developed the Southern Suppliers' Network to connect Southeast Georgia's small business suppliers to major manufacturers. Earlier in his professional career, the Congressman served in information management positions withOxford Industries and theNorth American Mission Board of theSouthern Baptist Convention.
After leaving Congress, Burns was dean of the Mike Cottrell Business School atNorth Georgia College & State University inDahlonega, Georgia.
After his final bid to regain his congressional seat, Burns served as senior policy adviser at Thelen, Reid and Priest, LLP in Washington, D.C.[1] He also served as associate dean and chair of the business administration department at the Cottrell School of Business at North Georgia College & State University. In 2011, he was appointed as president ofGordon College. He served in that role until his retirement on December 31, 2017.[3]
In January 2024, Burns co-sponsored S.B. 390, which would withhold government funding for any libraries in Georgia affiliated with theAmerican Library Association.[4][5]
Burns won the Republican primary for the 12th district, one of two Georgia gained after the2000 Census. He defeated Barbara Dooley, the wife ofUniversity of Georgia coaching legendVince Dooley.
Initially, Burns was thought to be a significant underdog in the general election. The 12th had been drawn as a Democratic stronghold. Additionally, Burns ran on a very conservative platform. However, the Democratic candidate,Augusta businessman Charles "Champ" Walker Jr., son ofstate Senate majority leaderCharles Walker Sr., was dogged by ethical questions and began losing ground during the summer. Eventually, Burns won by a surprising 10-point margin, taking 55% to Walker's 45 percent.
Burns was elected president of the Republican freshman class, but was a top Democratic target in the2004 elections. His 2004 Democratic opponent wasAthens-Clarke County CommissionerJohn Barrow, who beat Burns 52% to 48%.
In May 2005, Burns announced that he would seek a rematch against Barrow in 2006. The state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, had conducted a highly controversial mid-decade redistricting. In the process, they drew Barrow's home in Athens out of the district and moved several Republican-leaning Savannah suburbs from the 1st District. Although the result was to make the 12th about five points more African-American than its predecessor, it was also slightly less Democratic.
Barrow narrowly defeated Burns, 50.3% to 49.7%, the closest margin for a Democratic incumbent in the cycle. While Burns won 14 of the district's 22 counties, he lost in the two largest counties,Chatham andRichmond, home to Savannah and Augusta respectively. PresidentGeorge W. Bush made two personal appearances campaigning on behalf of former Representative Burns.[citation needed] The first appearance by President Bush was inSavannah, Georgia and the second inStatesboro, Georgia. This was the second time a sitting president has visited Savannah Georgia and first time a sitting president has visited Statesboro Georgia.
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Champ Walker | 62,904 | 45% | Max Burns | 77,479 | 55% | |||
| 2004 | John Barrow | 113,036 | 52% | Max Burns | 105,132 | 48% | |||
| 2006 | John Barrow | 71,651 | 50% | Max Burns | 70,787 | 50% |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's 12th congressional district 2003–2005 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
