Mike Beebe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Beebe
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Beebe in 2009
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| 45th Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office January 9, 2007 – January 13, 2015 |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Preceded by | Mike Huckabee |
| Succeeded by | Asa Hutchinson |
| 54th Attorney General of Arkansas | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 9, 2007 |
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| Governor | Mike Huckabee |
| Preceded by | Mark Pryor |
| Succeeded by | Dustin McDaniel |
| Member of the Arkansas Senate from the district |
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| In office January 10, 1983 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Walmsley |
| Succeeded by | John Paul Capps |
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mickey Dale Beebe
December 28, 1946 Amagon, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Ginger Croom
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Arkansas State University, Jonesboro (BA) University of Arkansas (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1968–1974 |
| Unit |  United States Army Reserve |
Mickey Dale Beebe (born December 28, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 45th Governor of Arkansas from 2007 to 2015. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Arkansas from 2003 to 2007.
Mike Beebe was born in Amagon, Arkansas. He went to Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas. After becoming a lawyer, he was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 1982. He served there for 20 years. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Schooling
Mike Beebe was born in Amagon, a small town in Jackson County, Arkansas. His mother, a waitress, raised him. He moved around a lot as a child, living in different cities like Detroit and St. Louis. His family eventually returned to Newport, Arkansas, where he finished high school in 1964.
Beebe earned a college degree in political science from Arkansas State University in 1968. He then went to the University of Arkansas and earned his law degree in 1972. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Starting His Political Career
In 1982, Mike Beebe was elected to the Arkansas State Senate. He served in the Senate for 20 years, from 1983 to 2003. He was known for being good at working with others to get things done. During his last term, he was chosen to be the president of the Senate.
In 2002, he was elected as the Arkansas Attorney General. This job meant he was the state's chief legal officer. He held this position for four years before becoming governor.
Governor of Arkansas (2007–2015)
Mike Beebe served as the Governor of Arkansas for two terms. He focused on important issues like the state's budget, taxes, and education.
Becoming Governor
Winning the 2006 Election
On June 14, 2005, Mike Beebe announced he would run for Governor of Arkansas. He won the election on November 7, 2006. He defeated Asa Hutchinson, who was a Republican Congressman. Beebe received 55 percent of the votes.
He officially became governor on January 9, 2007.
Winning the 2010 Election
Mike Beebe ran for a second term as governor in 2010. He won this election by a large margin. He defeated Republican candidate Jim Keet with 64 percent of the votes.
First Term as Governor
During his first term, Governor Beebe worked on several key areas. He aimed to create a balanced budget for the state. He also tried to lower taxes for middle-class families. One way he did this was by cutting the state's grocery tax.
Education was another big focus for Beebe. He wanted to spend more money to help students with special needs. He also created a plan to improve the quality of teachers in Arkansas. This plan offered better pay and support to encourage good students to become teachers.
He also had a plan to make health care easier to get and more affordable. This included using federal money to help people pay for private insurance. He also wanted to expand Medicaid, which helps low-income people get health care.
Second Term as Governor
In 2011, Governor Beebe supported increasing taxes to help fund highways. He believed it was important for improving roads in the state.
In 2012, he suggested increasing funding for state departments. This included more money for human services and public schools.
During his second term, the Republican Party gained control of the state legislature. This was the first time a Democratic governor in Arkansas had to work with a Republican-controlled legislature since 1874. Despite this, Beebe was able to get some important laws passed. In 2013, he signed a law that allowed Arkansas to use federal money to help thousands of low-income residents get private health insurance.
Mike Beebe remained very popular throughout his time as governor. His approval rating stayed high, often above 70 percent. He finished his term on January 13, 2015.
After Being Governor
After leaving office, Mike Beebe joined a law firm in Little Rock in March 2015. In December 2015, he was named to the board of directors for Tyson Foods, a large food company. He also serves on the Governors’ Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Images for kids
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Governor Mike Beebe's inauguration in Little Rock, Arkansas, January 9, 2007
See also
In Spanish: Mike Beebe para niños
