When asked, "Why pick Mick for the House of Delegates?" community leaders can count the ways... here are their top ten.
Mick is a…
n Focused leader
He balances concern for people with concern for results. – Bob Kiss
n Skilled Communicator
He articulates a clear vision and strategy to inspire individuals and teams. – Bill Baker
n Proven Performer
Mick is a “Doer”. He gets things done. He sees a challenge… looks for solutions and resources… then puts them to work. – Susan Landis
n Successful Business Owner
As the owner of a 26-employee fitness and rehabilitation facility that supports over 500 clients/members each month, Mick appreciates the demands of managing and growing a business in West Virginia. He’s knowledgeable about regulation and taxation concerns. – Nancy Kissinger
n Health Care Professional
Being a Physical Therapist and the Chief Clinical Officer for BODYWORKS, Mick recognizes the impact disease and injury have on families, businesses, and communities. He also understands the complex issues like health care and insurance. – Brett Eckley
n Husband and Father
With four children under the age of six, Mick and Pam (his wife) are faced with decisions about health, education, balance of work and family, and planning for the future. Like many of their neighbors, he and Pam are both invested in making WV a place where their children will want to stay because they can find good work and live well. – Connie Higgins
n Community Builder
Mick actively develops and supports programs that improve community as demonstrated by his leadership with the Chamber of Commerce, his church, and professional organizations. – Pete Torrico
n Committed Citizen
Mick has a stake in the game. He owns and operates a business here and has a growing family. He wants SWV to be an even better place to live for himself, for his family, his employees, his friends, his neighbors… and for you. – Emmett Pugh
n Believer
Mick believes in West Virginia – its future and its people. He’s passionate about WV becoming a top ten state… moving from the bottom of the bad lists… and to the top of the good ones. – Tony Kelly
n New Voice of Leadership
Because he’s the 3rd generation of an Australian mining family, Mick’s right at home here. He could live anywhere, but he chooses to be here. This country and this community have given him so much… now he wants to give something back. He’s picked West Virginia and now he asks West Virginia to Pick Mick. – Karen Bowling
Please share these solid reasons to pick Mick. Email this link to your friends, family, and co-workers... call them... or encourage them to visit www.pickmick.org.
If you'd like to make a financial contribution, please make checks payable to PickMick and send it to P.O. Box 844, Beckley, WV 25801
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Robert S. Kiss Joins PickMick Team
At a press event on November 6th in Beckley, Mick Bates announced Bob Kiss’ agreement to serve as the Treasurer for the Committee To Elect Mick Bates for WV House of Delegates 27th District seat. Mick said “I have had the pleasure of knowing Bob from my very first years here in Beckley. When, late last year, I began to consider running for office, it was Bob’s counsel I sought first. There is no one, in public life that I admire more or would wish for as a partner to advise me on economic and other key issues.
Bob’s many accomplishments are well documented and rather than list all the contributions he’s made to our District and to WV in his 20+ years as a delegate or his 18+ years as the longest serving speaker in WV history, I would like to highlight what I consider to be his “essence” and how having Bob as my treasurer underscores the seriousness and viability of my candidacy.
Bob is Mr. Fiscal Responsibility. We weren’t even making the minimum payments on our credit cards. As Speaker, he got WV back in the black, making improvements in Raleigh and Summers counties – and even putting money aside. No one understands government finances better than he does.
In this campaign and as a future delegate, the primary focus for me is our economic issues. Money doesn’t make you happy. But the lack of it can sure make you miserable. In my life as husband and father… and business owner, I know this to be a fact. Money will not solve your problems, but having it gives you options. So, fiscal responsibility will go a long way to strengthening our economic health.
Bob’s leadership experience and commitment to fiscal responsibility will be reflected in our management of the campaign, its budget, and my future candidacy. I am honored to have Bob on my team.”
Of Bates, Kiss said, “He’s not pursuing public office for the money, the ego, or for his personal success. Mick’s already accomplished personal success; he’s come to America and accomplished the American Dream. Now he wants to help change things for the better.”
There are many things that we need to do together to help create a better, healthier WV. Please make a difference by getting involved. To learn how you can help, visit http://www.pickmick.org/getinvolved.aspx.
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New Voice of Leadership for Southern West Virginia - taken from Mick’s candidacy announcement speech on 6/20/07.
"15 years ago, we knew that there was no better place than Southern West Virginia, to live and raise a family. So, we started our business and later our family. And, in the process, we discovered a community that will always be home to us.
As wonderful as West Virginia is and as far as we’ve come, the reality is that there’s more to do. We can do better. SWV has everything it takes to be a place where our young people can find opportunity and where others – old and young – are attracted to join us in making what is a great place to live, even better. WV can be a place where we all can live well. Prosperity does not have to stop at the WV border.
The Road Less Taken
We can choose a better path – a path that will take WV to the top – to being a top ten state on the good lists – not just a top ten state on the bad ones.
The United States is, and will always be, the land of opportunity. Mountaineers will always be free. And, we always have the freedom to choose the better path. I know – because I am walking that path. A path to prosperity – not just for me, but for my family, my friends, the people I work with every day, and our community. I invite you to come join me – join us on this journey.
It might not always be an easy journey – the better path rarely is. But it will be a rewarding one – one you will not want to miss. And, like most things worth doing, you have to show up to play – you have to decide to get in the game.
Stepping Up
Justice Holmes said, ‘The only title more important to the Republic than that of President is that of citizen.’ So, I’m showing up. In October, I became a U.S. citizen. In November, I registered to vote. In January, I filed pre-candidacy papers. In June, I announced my interest in running for the 27th District’s seat in the House of Delegates.
I’m stepping up because I believe, from talking with many others, that people are ready – ready for a new voice of leadership in for SWV. I am asking you to believe in what’s possible – and to believe in me. I am not arrogant enough to say that I have all the solutions – far from it. But, I am confident. I have the will and the ability and to understand the problems; consider the options; and implement real solutions.
I am confident that you will support someone that is willing to do what’s right, rather than just what’s easy. I’m confident that you understand the need to focus on the big issues that limit our ability to live well and keep us ‘just getting by’. I want to deliver a message of hope and to work with others to create a healthy WV – healthy in every way – healthy economically, environmentally, educationally socially, spiritually, and physically. We can do that; we can.
The Journey
We can be a top ten state – in every category. We can rise up from the bottom of all the good lists and vanish from top of all the bad lists. We can be a top ten state. It will take some time – it may take years to get there. It’s a journey that’s taken one step at time.
We can do this – together. Join me in building a healthy WV. I want to be your voice – a new voice of leadership for SWV. I believe in WV – its people and its future. I want to be a part of that future. I picked WV and now I’m asking you to Pick Mick.”