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Candidates' Biographical Information |
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for:
U.S. Congress District 04, Arkansas |
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November 4, 2008 Arkansas General Election |
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Candidates' Positions and Views on Other Issues where Information is Available: |
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The report below lists the candidate responses to Biographical Information issue questions. The responses were provided by Mike Ross and Joshua J. Drake or were obtained from their websites. The candidates select the issues and questions for which they want to provide a response. The first link is a report of all the issues and questions made available to the candidates. Many issues and questions had no responses - links are only provided where we have information. If there are many candidates for this office, you may have to scroll down to compare all responses. |
| Biographical |
Mike Ross - D
Website
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Joshua J. Drake - G
Website
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| Age: |
51 |
44 |
| General: (goals, objectives, views, philosophies) |
It has been an honor to serve the people of the 4th District and the great state of Arkansas and I look forward to continuing as your representative for the next two years. |
I believe our current political system is broken and can only be corrected by viable third parties. Democrats and Republicans have become more interested in preserving their power than helping the American people. |
| Personal: (gender, age, marital status, spouse, children, residence) |
A fifth-generation Arkansan, Mike Ross was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. He is the son of public school educators and is married to the former Holly Hempen of Texarkana. They have two children, Sydney, age 17, and Alex, age 13. |
Gender: Male
Age:39
Married to Cheryl Murphy Drake for 18 years.
3 Children: Grace age 11, Gideon age 7, Hope age 4.
Birth Date: 11/05/1968
Birthplace: Bad Talz, Germany
Home City: Hot Springs, AR |
| Education: (schools, colleges, major, degrees) |
Mike Ross is a graduate of Hope High School in Hope, Arkansas, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He worked his way through college as a radio announcer. |
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SCHOOL OF LAW
* Juris Doctor, May 1994.
* Arkansas Law License, August 1994
* LSAT Score: 46 (Top 1%)
* Honors:
- The Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court
- Public Interest Law Practicum
- Georgia Civil Justice Foundation Scholarship
* Activities:
- National Mock Trial Team; Winner 2L/3L in-school trial tournament
- Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer
- Vice-president/Treasurer - Christian Legal Society
BA, International Relations/Political Science, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee 1991.
* B.A. in International Relations and Political Science 1991
* All American-Mock Trial Team
* Awarded four year University Scholarship
* Vice-president, Baptist Student Union |
| Profession: (profession,work experience outside politics) |
Mike and Holly Ross own a family pharmacy and home medical equipment business in Prescott. |
Hobbs, Garnett, Naramore & Drake, P.A.- Partner, law firm
Center for Arkansas Legal Services-Staff Attorney
(formerly Central Arkansas Legal Services)
Hot Springs, Arkansas May 1994- January 2003
Arkansas Legal Services Workers Union-President 1997-2003
Public Interest Law Project-Founding Member and Teaching Assistant
August 1992-May 1994, University of Georgia School of Law
Kopecky & Roberts-Law Clerk
April 1992- May 1994, Washington, Georgia
Legal Aid/Criminal Defense Clinic-Student Attorney
January-December 1993, University of Georgia School of Law
Georgia Legal Services-Legal Intern
Summer 1993, Gainesville, Georgia
Institute for Continuing Judical Education-Research Assistant
Summer 1992, University of Georgia School of Law
United States District Court-Intern for the Honorable Julia Smith Gibbons
Spring Semester 1991, Western District of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee
Neighborhood Christian Center-Volunteer Tutor
August 1988 - May 1991, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Military: (branch, service, active duty, rank, honors, discharge) |
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No military experience but my father was a Vietnam veteran and Army major who received a silver star multiple bronze stars and purple hearts. My grandfather was a rear admiral in the Navy and at Pearl Harbor. |
| Civic: (organizations, charities) |
In 2005, Mike was named Citizen of the Year in his hometown by the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce and received the 2005 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award by the De Soto Area Council of Boy Scouts. |
Board Member, Pocket Theatre of Hot Springs, 2006-present.
Board of Stewards, First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs, 2004-present.
Member, Society for American Baseball Research, 2003-present.
Member, Hot Springs Macintosh Users Group, 2000-present.
Leader, YMCA Indian/Adventure Guides, 2000-present.
Board Member, Garland County Law Library Committee, 1998-present.
Baseball coach at Hot Springs Boys and Girls Club, 2005-present
Softball coach, First Methodist Church, Hot Springs Christian Athletic Association, 1999-present
Former assistant coach, Lake Hamilton High School Mock Trail Team.
President, Arkansas Legal Services Workers Union, 1996-2003.
CASA volunteer, 1992-1994.
Supporter, Garland County CASA
Leader, YMCA Indian Guides/Adventure Guides, 2002-present |
| Political: (offices held) |
In 1990, Mike was elected as the youngest member of the Arkansas State Senate, at the age of 29, where he served for ten years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mike Ross of Prescott represents Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2000.
In addition to holding a seat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, he also serves on its exclusive Health Subcommittee and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Additionally, Mike serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mike is a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democratic House Members. Mike co-chairs the Congressional Delta Caucus, the I-49 Congressional Caucus and the I-69 Congressional Caucus. He is also vice-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. |
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| Religion: (religious affiliations and beliefs) |
Mike and Holly Ross are active members of the First United Methodist Church. |
I am a Christian who grew up Southern Missionary Baptist but now I am a member of First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs. |
| Accomplishments: (awards, achievements) |
In 1990, Mike was elected as the youngest member of the Arkansas State Senate, at the age of 29, where he served for ten years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mike Ross of Prescott represents Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2000.
In addition to holding a seat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, he also serves on its exclusive Health Subcommittee and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Additionally, Mike serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mike is a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democratic House Members. Mike co-chairs the Congressional Delta Caucus, the I-49 Congressional Caucus and the I-69 Congressional Caucus. He is also vice-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. |
Garland County CASA, 2007 Ad Litem of the Year.
Hot Springs Sentinel Record Readers Choice Award- Best Attorney in Hot Springs- 2nd Place. |