| Jim McClendon | |
| State Senate: | Alabama |
| District: | 11th |
| Term Start: | November 5, 2014 |
| Term End: | November 9, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Jerry Fielding |
| Successor: | Lance Bell |
| State House2: | Alabama |
| District2: | 50th |
| Term Start2: | 2002 |
| Term End2: | November 5, 2014 |
| Predecessor2: | Marilyn Quarles |
| Birth Date: | January 10, 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Mobile, Alabama |
| Party: | Republican |
| Profession: | Optometrist |
| Alma Mater: | Birmingham–Southern College University of Houston |
| Spouse: | Ellen |
| Children: | 2 |
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]