Mickey Gates
Michael Wayne Gates, known as Mickey Gates (born 1959/1960), is a businessman from Hot Springs, Arkansas, who was a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 22, which encompasses Garland and Saline counties in the west central portion of the state.
Michael Wayne "Mickey" Gates | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
| In office January 12, 2015 – October 11, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Westerman |
| Succeeded by | Richard McGrew (elect) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959/1960 (age 60–61) Perryton, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Jeanette Whitten Gates |
| Children | Elizabeth Gates & Benjamin Gates |
| Residence | Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Born in Perryton, Texas, Gates grew up in Spearman, but moved to Borger to finish the last three years of his public education at Borger High School.
From 1994 to 2014, Gates was an elected member of the Garland County Quorum Court, the equivalent of county commission in most other states. Gates was a founding board member for the Change Point Pregnancy Care Center in Hot Springs. He has been chairman of the Garland County Republican Party and the Garland County Young Republicans.[1]
In 2014, he was elected to succeed Bruce Westerman, a fellow Republican who was instead elected to the United States House of Representatives for Arkansas's 4th congressional district. In the Republican primary election, Gates defeated Donald Laymon, 2,690 to 1,869. He was then unopposed in the November 4 general election in a heavily Republican year in Arkansas.[2] During his first term in office, Gates served on the House committees of Aging, Children, and Youth Legislative and Military Affairs & Public Transportation.
Gates is president of The Stonebridge Collection, a company that produces custom pocket knives.[3]
Arrest
In June 2018, Gates was arrested and charged with six counts of failure to pay or file a tax return between 2012 through 2017. Though he had not filed tax returns since 2003, the statute of limitations was six years. Authorities with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration say he owes upwards of $260,000 including penalties.[4][5] He was removed from the office by a super-majority vote on October 11, 2019.[6][7][8][9]
References
- "Mickey Gates". Arkansas House of Representatives. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- "District 22". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- "Mickey W. Gates". intelius.com. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- Dedaj, Paulina (June 28, 2018). "Arkansas lawmaker accused of filing no taxes for 15 years arrested". Fox News. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- | June 28, 2018 | Arkansas lawmaker accused of filing no taxes for 15 years arrested | Paulina Dedaj | Fox News |
- Moritz, John (October 12, 2019). "Arkansas House votes88-4 to expel Rep. Mickey Gates". Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- Associated Press (July 30, 2019). "State Rep. Gates sentenced to 6 years of probation for not filing taxes". thv11.com.
- Marine Glisovic, KATV (October 11, 2019). "Rep. Mickey Gates expelled from Arkansas House in historic vote". katv.com.
| Preceded by Bruce Westerman |
Arkansas State Representative for District 22 (Garland and Saline counties) Mickey Gates |
Succeeded by Vacant |