Michael Lamoureux

Michael John Lamoureux (born June 2, 1976) is a lawyer, lobbyist, and former Republican politician from Russellville, Arkansas. He served in the Arkansas General Assembly for over ten years before resigning to serve as chief of staff to Governor Asa Hutchinson. In 2016, Lamoreaux resigned and joined a lobbying firm.

Michael Lamoureux
President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate
In office January 2013 – November 14, 2014
Preceded by	Paul Bookout
Succeeded by	Jonathan Dismang
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 16th district
In office January 2013 – November 14, 2014
Preceded by	James Word
Succeeded by	Greg Standridge
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 4th district
In office December 16, 2009 – January 2013
Preceded by	Sharon Trusty
Succeeded by	Uvalde Lindsey
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 68th district
In office January 2003 – January 2009
Preceded by	David Evans
Succeeded by	Andrea Lea
Personal details
Born	June 2, 1976 Springfield, Missouri, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kristi Lamoureux
Residence	Russellville, Arkansas
Alma mater	Arkansas Tech University William H. Bowen School of Law
Occupation	Lawyer, lobbyist

Early life and career

Lamoureux was born in Springfield, Missouri and later moved to Dover in Pope County and then the county seat of Russellville. While a senior at Dover High School and attending Arkansas Tech University, he dreamed of winning election to public office.[1]

He later attended William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Lamoureux worked part-time as a lawyer for the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.[2]

Electoral history

Arkansas House of Representatives

Lamoureux won election to the Arkansas House of Representatives in November 2002, and was seated in the 84th Arkansas General Assembly at age 26. He served in the House and won re-election twice until declining to seek reelection in the November 2008 election. Throughout his time in the House, Lamoureux was part of the Republican minority, though the party was slowly gaining seats each cycle, and Republican Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee was term limited out on January 9, 2007.

2009 Arkansas Senate (Special)

Russellville Republican Sharon Trusty resigned from her Arkansas Senate District 4 seat on September 1, 2009, citing family needs, leading to a special election. Lamoureux had previously campaigned for Trusty in 1996, and sought the seat in the special election.[3] On December 16, 2009, Lamoureux won the special election to fill the District 4 seat.[4][5] In a low-turnout contest, he polled 2,955 votes (70.1 percent); the Democrat John Burnett trailed with 899 votes (21.3 percent). The remaining 8.6 percent of the ballots went to the Independent Tachany Evans.[6]

Arkansas Senate District 4 Special Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michael Lamoureux	2,955	70.1%
	Democratic	John Burnett	899	21.3%
	Independent	Tachany Evans	363	8.6%
	Republican hold

In 2011, Senator Lamoureux introduced a bill to double vehicle title fees.[7]

2012 Arkansas Senate

Lamoureux won re-election to a full Senate term in November 2012 without opposition in the Republican primary or the general election. Following the November 2012 elections, Lamoureux was nominated by fellow senators to be the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in ahead of the 89th Arkansas General Assembly. Now in the majority for the first time since the Reconstruction era,[8] the Republican met frequently with Democratic Governor Mike Beebe.[1]

He has been a member of the board of directors of the conservative interest group, the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Arkansas Senate
District 16 (Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren counties)

Hutchinson administration

Lamoureux stepped down from the Arkansas Senate on November 14, 2014 to lead the transition team for the incoming governor Asa Hutchinson's administration, and ultimately become his chief of staff.[2] The appointment had been expected by insiders and was praised by legislators from both parties.[9] A special election was called to fill the District 16 seat, ultimately won by Greg Standridge. He resigned from the governor's office May 31, 2016.[10]

References

1. Roark, Mike (November 19, 2012). "Lamoureux living life-long dream". The Courier. Russellville, AR. ISSN 1075-1866. OCLC 29962104. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
2. "Lamoureux To Resign From Arkansas Senate Friday". Times Record. Fort Smith, AR. November 11, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via NewsBank.
3. Wickline, Michael R. (February 16, 2013). "Ethics panel opening is filled". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. p. 9. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved January 30, 2021 – via NewsBank.
4. "Massage therapist qualifies to run for Senate seat". Arkansas News. October 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014.
5. "State Senate District 04 - Certified". Arkansas Secretary of State. December 16, 2009.
6. "State Senate District 04 Certified". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
7. "UPDATE Senate OKs bill to double vehicle title fees". Arkansas News. February 8, 2011.
8. Wickline, Michael R. (November 9, 2012). "GOP on top, state Senate elects leaders - Lamoureux put at helm after Democrats lose seats". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR: WEHCO Media. p. 1. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved January 17, 2021 – via NewsBank.
9. Wickline, Michael R. (November 6, 2014). "Hutchinson taps senator to head staff - Lamoureux praised by both parties". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. p. 1. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
10. Wickline, Michael R. (May 3, 2016). "Hutchinson's office to lose chief of staff". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock: WEHCO Media. ISSN 1060-4332. Retrieved January 30, 2021.