Former Florida Gov. Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, 91, died peacefully during an afternoon nap at his home in Ocala surrounded by his wife and sons on New Year’s Eve, a family spokesman said Thursday. MacKay’s decades-long public service career included stints as a state legislator, U.S. representative, lieutenant governor and — briefly — governor. MacKay was elected lieutenant governor in 1990 alongside the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. The Democrats were re-elected in 1994. MacKay ran to succeed Chiles in 1998 but was defeated by Republican Jeb Bush. Shortly before leaving office, however, MacKay stepped in as governor after Chiles’ sudden death on Dec. 12, 1998. MacKay’s tenure as the state’s chief executive lasted until Bush was sworn in on Jan. 6, 1999. “Gov MacKay was one of Florida’s greatest leaders and statesmen with a career of service that benefited all the people of Florida,” Ron Sachs, who served as communications director in the Chiles administration, said Thursday in a phone call speaking on behalf of the MacKay family. At the time of his death, MacKay was with his wife, Anne, and all four of his adult sons who were visiting during the holidays, according to Sachs. MacKay “had a regimen of taking a short afternoon nap most of his adult life,” Sachs added. Bush and his wife, Columba, offered condolences. “Columba and I send our deepest sympathies to Anne and the MacKay family as they mourn the loss of their beloved husband and father,” Bush said in a post on the social media platform X. “Governor MacKay’s life was dedicated to serving the state of Florida, which he did with honor and distinction.” MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/former-florida-governor-dies-buddy-mackay/67-fb59b820-3728-40e1-855b-7e83674752ee