Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons is a proven leader with a big heart who finds common sense solutions to complex problems. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as the leader of the Missouri Senate for both the 93rd and 94th General Assemblies. A Republican from Kirkwood, he represents the 15th Senatorial District which includes much of Southwest St. Louis County.

His public service began in 1986 when he was elected to the Kirkwood City Council, then served eight years as a state representative, and now is in his second term in the Senate.

Mike has been a champion for protecting children, and a defender of life. As Senate Majority Leader, he broke a filibuster to pass legislation requiring a 24 hour waiting period for abortions. Under his leadership, the Senate made it illegal to transport minors across state lines for abortions and created tax credits to help finance Pregnancy Resource Centers who provide support to pregnant women.

Mike works to protect Missouri families by supporting the creation of Missouri's Amber Alert system to help apprehend criminals who kidnap children and bring those children home safely. His leadership resulted in legislation protecting Missourians from identity theft; new laws that punish and catch internet predators; the passage of Jessica's law (30 year minimum to life sentences for child sex offenders) and some of the toughest laws in the country to stop the manufacturing and selling of Meth.

Mike has worked to improve our state's legal system by passing comprehensive civil lawsuit reform, making sure those wrongly convicted are compensated for their loss of liberty, and passing better protections for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence to make more victims feel safe to seek justice.

Outside the state capitol he is active on boards benefiting children, including the Nurses for Newborns Board, the St. Louis Crisis Nursery Board, Voices for Children Board, and STAGES St. Louis. He is a former member of the Edgewood Children's Center Board.

Sen. Gibbons practices law at Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP in St. Louis. He lives in his life-long hometown of Kirkwood with his wife, Liz. Their daughter, Meredith, is a freshman at Westminster where she plays volleyball. Their son Danny graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005 and now works in Jefferson City.