Michael O'Neal
Encyclopedia
Michael O'Neal is an American
politician from Hutchinson
, Kansas
and a prominent Republican
. Mike has been active in the Reno County Republican Party, first as a precinct committeeman
, then as a member of the Executive Committee of the county party, and, finally, as an elected State Representative. Recent honors include being named 2002 State Official of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders, being named 2005 Kansas Pro-Jobs Legislator by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and being selected to the 2005 Class of Kansas Super Lawyers.
, Kansas
near Scott City
, Kansas
. An only child, Mike lived on the farm until he was 4. Mike’s dad had been farming with his dad and a brother but decided to give up farming and the family moved to Colby
, Kansas
for a short time before moving to Scott City
, Kansas
, where Mike’s dad made a living in bread sales and owned and operated a home delivery dairy business. Mike attended public schools from kindergarten through high school in Scott City. Mike graduated #2 in his class at Scott Community High in 1969.
Mike went to college on a National Science Foundation
scholarship, attending the University of Kansas
from 1969-1973, where he earned a B.A.
in English and was accepted into the University of Kansas School of Law. During his second and third year of law school, Mike interned with the Office of Legislative Counsel. There he was involved in writing Supreme Court
briefs on the Legislature’s behalf in such landmark cases as Brown v. Wichita State University and Leek v. Theis. In his 3rd year of law school Mike was Co-Chairman of Moot Court Council. Mike earned his J.D. degree at KU in 1976 and moved to Hutchinson
, Kansas
where he has practiced law for nearly 30 years. Mike has been active in the Reno County Republican Party, first as a precinct committeeman, then as a member of the Executive Committee of the county party, and, finally, as an elected State Representative.
. In his eleventh term, Mike, along with two of his 1985 legislative classmates are the senior members of the Kansas House of Representatives. In 1984, Mike was in the inaugural class of Leadership Hutchinson and in 1985, his first year in the House, he was selected to Leadership Kansas. In 1986, Mike received the Outstanding Young Men of America award and in 1987 was an American Council of Young Political Leaders delegate to the Biennial Assembly in Strasburg, France.
Other honors include selection into the Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America
, and Who’s Who in the Midwest. Mike is also the recipient of the Friend of Small Business
award from the Kansas Chapter of the National Federation of Small Business, and recipient of the Kansas Bar Association
’s Making a Difference Award. Mike has also served on the Kansas Sentencing Commission, KU Law Society Board of Governors, the Kansas Tourism Commission, the Hutchinson YMCA Board of Directors, and was Chairman of the Wesley Towers Advisory Committee.
Recent honors include being named 2002 State Official of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders, being named 2005 Kansas Pro-Jobs Legislator by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and being selected to the 2005 Class of Kansas Super Lawyers.
Mike is currently Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and was Chairman of the House Redistricting Committee during the 2002 session. That Committee redrew House, Senate, State Board of Education and Congressional boundaries following the revised federal census of 2000. Mike then successfully represented the Legislature in Federal Court when the redistricting plan was challenged. Mike has chaired the House Judiciary Committee three different times totaling 13 years and has served as Chairman of the House Education Committee. Twice Mike has been elected to the office of Republican Whip. Mike also currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Select Committee on School Finance.
Mike is a commissioner with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
and serves as a member of the Kansas Judicial Council. His other current committee assignments are Rules & Journal Committee and the House Transportation, Judicial Branch, Revenue and KPERS Budget Subcommittee. Other legislative memberships include the National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, and the American Legislative Exchange Council. In 1997, Mike accompanied a group of Kansas State University
educators and fellow legislators on an educational exchange mission to Voronezh, Russia
to assist their emerging democracy.
, Kansas
, Kansas City
, Kansas
, and Lawrence
, Kansas
. The firm’s senior partner is former House member and Majority Leader John Hayes
, whose former district Mike now represents. Mike has an active state and federal trial practice involving, primarily, the defense of doctors and other health care providers. Mike is a member of the Kansas Bar Association
, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute.
, Kansas
. Mike has two children, Haley and Austin. Both Haley and Austin graduated from the University of Kansas
. Cindy has worked for the legislature since 1987 and currently serves as the Secretary for the House Judiciary Committee. She has her B.A.
in Corrections from Washburn University
. When the legislature is not in session, she works with the Kansas State Fair
and serves on the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation Board.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and a prominent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Mike has been active in the Reno County Republican Party, first as a precinct committeeman
Precinct committeeman
A Precinct Committeemen, or PC, is the name for a office and the name of the official that organizes a voting precinct for a political party.There are state, ward and township party organizations, but the basic unit of U.S...
, then as a member of the Executive Committee of the county party, and, finally, as an elected State Representative. Recent honors include being named 2002 State Official of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders, being named 2005 Kansas Pro-Jobs Legislator by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and being selected to the 2005 Class of Kansas Super Lawyers.
Early Life & Education
Mike O'Neal was adopted as an infant by Ralph and Margaret O’Neal, a farm family from ManningManning, Kansas
Manning is a small unincorporated community in Scott County, Kansas, United States. Its post office was established December 20, 1887, and closed June 30, 1955....
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
near Scott City
Scott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. An only child, Mike lived on the farm until he was 4. Mike’s dad had been farming with his dad and a brother but decided to give up farming and the family moved to Colby
Colby, Kansas
Colby is a city in and the county seat of Thomas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,387.-History:...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
for a short time before moving to Scott City
Scott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, where Mike’s dad made a living in bread sales and owned and operated a home delivery dairy business. Mike attended public schools from kindergarten through high school in Scott City. Mike graduated #2 in his class at Scott Community High in 1969.
Mike went to college on a National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
scholarship, attending the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
from 1969-1973, where he earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and was accepted into the University of Kansas School of Law. During his second and third year of law school, Mike interned with the Office of Legislative Counsel. There he was involved in writing Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
briefs on the Legislature’s behalf in such landmark cases as Brown v. Wichita State University and Leek v. Theis. In his 3rd year of law school Mike was Co-Chairman of Moot Court Council. Mike earned his J.D. degree at KU in 1976 and moved to Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
where he has practiced law for nearly 30 years. Mike has been active in the Reno County Republican Party, first as a precinct committeeman, then as a member of the Executive Committee of the county party, and, finally, as an elected State Representative.
Political Career & Honors
Mike was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1984, beating a one-term incumbent DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In his eleventh term, Mike, along with two of his 1985 legislative classmates are the senior members of the Kansas House of Representatives. In 1984, Mike was in the inaugural class of Leadership Hutchinson and in 1985, his first year in the House, he was selected to Leadership Kansas. In 1986, Mike received the Outstanding Young Men of America award and in 1987 was an American Council of Young Political Leaders delegate to the Biennial Assembly in Strasburg, France.
Other honors include selection into the Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Who’s Who in the Midwest. Mike is also the recipient of the Friend of Small Business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
award from the Kansas Chapter of the National Federation of Small Business, and recipient of the Kansas Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
The Kansas Bar Association is a voluntary, non-profit bar association for the state of Kansas with the headquarters located at 12th and Harrison St. in Topeka. The KBA has approximately 7,000 members and was founded in 1882.- Membership :...
’s Making a Difference Award. Mike has also served on the Kansas Sentencing Commission, KU Law Society Board of Governors, the Kansas Tourism Commission, the Hutchinson YMCA Board of Directors, and was Chairman of the Wesley Towers Advisory Committee.
Recent honors include being named 2002 State Official of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders, being named 2005 Kansas Pro-Jobs Legislator by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and being selected to the 2005 Class of Kansas Super Lawyers.
Mike is currently Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and was Chairman of the House Redistricting Committee during the 2002 session. That Committee redrew House, Senate, State Board of Education and Congressional boundaries following the revised federal census of 2000. Mike then successfully represented the Legislature in Federal Court when the redistricting plan was challenged. Mike has chaired the House Judiciary Committee three different times totaling 13 years and has served as Chairman of the House Education Committee. Twice Mike has been elected to the office of Republican Whip. Mike also currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Select Committee on School Finance.
Mike is a commissioner with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is a non-profit, unincorporated association commonly referred to as the U.S. Uniform Law Commission. It consists of commissioners appointed by each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States...
and serves as a member of the Kansas Judicial Council. His other current committee assignments are Rules & Journal Committee and the House Transportation, Judicial Branch, Revenue and KPERS Budget Subcommittee. Other legislative memberships include the National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, and the American Legislative Exchange Council. In 1997, Mike accompanied a group of Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
educators and fellow legislators on an educational exchange mission to Voronezh, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to assist their emerging democracy.
Professional career
Since 1988, Mike has been a shareholder in the Gilliland & Hayes law firm in Hutchinson. The firm also has offices in WichitaWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. The firm’s senior partner is former House member and Majority Leader John Hayes
John Hayes
John Hayes may refer to:In academia:* John Hayes , British art historian and museum director, expert on GainsboroughIn entertainment:* John Hayes , American director of low-budget films...
, whose former district Mike now represents. Mike has an active state and federal trial practice involving, primarily, the defense of doctors and other health care providers. Mike is a member of the Kansas Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
The Kansas Bar Association is a voluntary, non-profit bar association for the state of Kansas with the headquarters located at 12th and Harrison St. in Topeka. The KBA has approximately 7,000 members and was founded in 1882.- Membership :...
, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute.
Family & Interests
Mike, along with wife Cindy, live at 8 Windemere Court in HutchinsonHutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Mike has two children, Haley and Austin. Both Haley and Austin graduated from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. Cindy has worked for the legislature since 1987 and currently serves as the Secretary for the House Judiciary Committee. She has her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Corrections from Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
. When the legislature is not in session, she works with the Kansas State Fair
Kansas State Fair
The annual Kansas State Fair is held in Hutchinson each September. The 2012 State Fair runs from September 7 through September 16.The Kansas State Fair is held annually beginning the Friday following Labor Day and lasts for 10 days at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.The largest...
and serves on the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation Board.