Background
Cates, Gary was born on December 27, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia, United States.
Cates, Gary was born on December 27, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia, United States.
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1978. Master of Business Administration, University Dayton, 1981.
A graduate of Virginia Technical and the University of Dayton, 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 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.
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. With incumbent Senator Scott Nein 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. lieutenant 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.
Cates, up for reelection in 2008, was again a strong favorite against Democratic challenger Kathryn Bridgman.
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.
Member of Ohio Township Association, Butler County Township Association, Mid Miami Valley College of C., Southeastern Butler Company, Ohio-Ky-Ind Regional Council Governments, Optimist Club, Lakota/West Chester Kiwanis Club.
Married Jill Cates; 2 children.