Gary Cates
Encyclopedia
Gary Cates is a Republican
politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly
. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from 1995 to 2004, and a member of the Ohio Senate
from 2005 to 2011.
, Cates began his political career as a Union Township
Trustee from 1990 to 1995. When Representative Scott Nein
resigned from the Ohio House of Representatives to take a seat in the Ohio Senate
late in 1995, Cates was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. A reliably Republican district, Cates faced no opposition in the 1996 primary and beat Kendall L. Mays handily in the 1996 election. He went on to win easily against opponents in 1998 and 2000, and ran unopposed in 2002. In 2001, Cates was elected by his peers to serve in as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, the second highest position under Speaker of the House Larry Householder
. He served in this capacity for both the 124th General Assembly and the 125th General Assembly.
unable to run for the Senate again because of term limits, Cates, along with Representative Greg Jolivette
and County Commissioner Courtney Combs
were seen as potential successors. Midway through 2003, the Butler County
Republican party sought to create a proposal that would help to avoid a primary. It focused on Jolivette and Combs switching offices, therefore allowing Cates to seal the nomination for the Senate seat. However, this did not work out. Jolivette decided to seek a fourth term in the House, and Combs decided to seek the Senate seat. Cates faced no opposition for his bid. Therefore, he had a clear path to the Senate in a staunchly Republican district. Against Democrat Melvin A. Smith in the general election, Cates won by about 48,000 votes.
Cates, up for reelection in 2008, was again a strong favorite against Democratic challenger Kathryn Bridgman. He won a second term by approximately 35,000 votes.
On May 5, 2011, Ohio Governor John Kasich
announced that he would be appointing Cates as the senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development with the Ohio Board of Regents. Cates accepted, and on May 23, 2011, resigned from the Senate. He was succeeded by Bill Coley
, who will serve out the remainder of Cates' term before running for a full term in 2012.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 1995 to 2004, and a member of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
from 2005 to 2011.
Life and career
A graduate of Virginia Tech and the University of DaytonUniversity of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, Cates began his political career as a Union Township
West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio
West Chester Township, formerly known as Union Township, is a township located in the southeast corner of Butler County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, one of thirteen townships in the county. It is situated between Sharonville and Monroe, about 18 miles north of Cincinnati, and...
Trustee from 1990 to 1995. When Representative Scott Nein
Scott Nein
Scott R. Nein of Middletown, Ohio, is an American politician of the Republican party, who formerly served in the Ohio General Assembly. An insurance agent, Nein was encouraged by John Boehner to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed him in 1990. He did so, and ended up winning the...
resigned from the Ohio House of Representatives to take a seat in the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
late in 1995, Cates was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. A reliably Republican district, Cates faced no opposition in the 1996 primary and beat Kendall L. Mays handily in the 1996 election. He went on to win easily against opponents in 1998 and 2000, and ran unopposed in 2002. In 2001, Cates was elected by his peers to serve in as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, the second highest position under Speaker of the House Larry Householder
Larry Householder
Larry Householder of Glenford, Ohio, is an American politician of the Republican party who served as speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005....
. He served in this capacity for both the 124th General Assembly and the 125th General Assembly.
Ohio Senate
With incumbent Senator Scott NeinScott Nein
Scott R. Nein of Middletown, Ohio, is an American politician of the Republican party, who formerly served in the Ohio General Assembly. An insurance agent, Nein was encouraged by John Boehner to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed him in 1990. He did so, and ended up winning the...
unable to run for the Senate again because of term limits, Cates, along with Representative Greg Jolivette
Greg Jolivette
Greg Jolivette is a politician in the U.S. state of Ohio: a current Butler County Commissioner, he has served in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the Cincinnati area....
and County Commissioner Courtney Combs
Courtney Combs
Courtney Combs is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 54th District since 2004. He is the Chairman of the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.-Career:...
were seen as potential successors. Midway through 2003, the Butler County
Butler County
Butler County is the name of eight counties in the United States:* Butler County, Alabama* Butler County, Iowa* Butler County, Kansas* Butler County, Kentucky* Butler County, Missouri* Butler County, Nebraska* Butler County, Ohio...
Republican party sought to create a proposal that would help to avoid a primary. It focused on Jolivette and Combs switching offices, therefore allowing Cates to seal the nomination for the Senate seat. However, this did not work out. Jolivette decided to seek a fourth term in the House, and Combs decided to seek the Senate seat. Cates faced no opposition for his bid. Therefore, he had a clear path to the Senate in a staunchly Republican district. Against Democrat Melvin A. Smith in the general election, Cates won by about 48,000 votes.
Cates, up for reelection in 2008, was again a strong favorite against Democratic challenger Kathryn Bridgman. He won a second term by approximately 35,000 votes.
On May 5, 2011, Ohio Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
announced that he would be appointing Cates as the senior vice chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development with the Ohio Board of Regents. Cates accepted, and on May 23, 2011, resigned from the Senate. He was succeeded by Bill Coley
Bill Coley
Bill Coley is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 4th District since 2011. Formerly, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.-Career:...
, who will serve out the remainder of Cates' term before running for a full term in 2012.