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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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2003-01-01 |
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| Name | Michael "Mike" Wheat |
| Address |
Bozeman, Montana , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
December 04, 1947
(77 years)
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| Contributor | Wishful Thinking |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Feb 02, 2022 03:30pm |
| Tags |
Caucasian - Married - Marine Corps - Straight -
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| Info | Mike's family roots in Montana are deep. Mike's grandparents, on his father's side, homesteaded near Ekalaka, then migrated to the western part of the state. His wife's grandparents farmed and ranched near Harrison. Mike was raised in Superior until he was eleven when his family moved to Nevada.
Mike finished school in Nevada and joined the Marine Corps when he was 20. In the Marines he was trained as a machine gunner and served a tour of duty in Vietnam where he was wounded in battle and awarded a Purple Heart. After his discharge from the Marines, Mike helped his parents move back to Montana. They settled in the Whitehall area and Mike helped his Dad build a family cabin in the Tobacco Root mountains. The fresh mountain air, beautiful scenery and friendly people convinced Mike that Montana would always be home. That fall he attended Montana State University where he met and fell in love with his future wife, Debby Craig.
Mike and Debby were married in 1973. They lived in Missoula where they both attended the University of Montana. While in college, Mike worked as a laborer and a carpenter. In 1978, Mike received his law degree from the University of Montana Law School.
Mike's career in law began as a Deputy County Attorney in Butte-Silver Bow. During his years as a criminal prosecutor, Mike gained valuable courtroom trial experience. Mike successfully prosecuted a wide range of cases - from homicides to DUI's. Mike and Debby moved to Bozeman in 1981 where Mike started a general practice law firm with his law school friend, Michael Cok. The firm, now Cok, Wheat & Kinzler, occupies the old Carnegie Library which Mike and his partner carefully and beautifully renovated.
In 1983 Mike and Debby's first son, Craig was born. Craig is a senior at Montana State University. Christopher was born in 1987 and is a freshman at Montana State University. Matthew was born in 1991 and is a freshman at Bozeman High School. Mike's daughter, Stacey lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband Gene and their two sons, John and James.
Seeking to be involved in public service, Mike was elected to the Montana State Senate in 2002. In the 2003 session he served on the Judiciary, Local Government and State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committees. During the 2003 session Mike was instrumental in the passage of legislation which reorganized the Veteran's Affairs Division and appropriated more funds to finance the hiring of additional staff to assist veterans.
In the 2005 session he served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as serving on Local Government and Natural Resources Committees. During the 2005 session Mike introduced legislation that protected consumers and active duty National Guardsmen.
Between sessions Mike served on the Law and Justice Interim Committee and the Environmental Quality Council. In the Montana Senate, Mike gained a reputation for being a hard working and thoughtful legislator who was not afraid to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans on legislation important to us all. Details on some of Mike's legislative work can be found at the end of this section.
Mike has received recognition from a variety of people and organizations for his work over the years, including:
In 1991 Mike received the Public Service Award from the Montana Trial Lawyers Association for his paticipation in the Peoples Law School in Gallatin County and again in 2006 for his work in the Montana Senate on behalf of consumers.
In 2003 Mike received the "Meritorious and Distinguished Service" award for furthering the aims and ideals of the veterans of Montana from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In 2004 he was recognized by the Gallatin Responsive Interventions Partnership, Alcohol and Drug Services of Gallatin County for his committment to strengthening Montana DUI laws.
In 2007 Mike received the "Guardian of the Guard" award in recognition of his outstanding support of the Montana National Guard.
Mike has served his profession as a board member and officer of the Gallatin County Bar Association and the Montana Trial Lawyers Association. Mike presently serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Montana School of Law. Mike has also served his community as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bozeman Public Library and Child Care Connections.
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