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'''Robert Michael Mills''' (born April 1, 1953) is the departing state senator for District 36 in Bienville, Bossier, Claiborne, and Webster parishes in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. Running on a [[conservative]] platform and a life-long registered [[Republican Party|Republican]], Mills unseated [[Ryan Gatti]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Bossier City]], who was seeking his second term in the [[general election]] held on November 16, 2019. Mills is one the first state legislative candidates to be endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], who urged voter support for Mills in pre-election rallies in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and Bossier City while Trump was campaigning for the unsuccessful Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] candidate, [[Eddie Rispone]].

'''Robert Michael Mills''' (born April 1, 1953) is the former state senator for District 36 in Bienville, Bossier, Claiborne, and Webster parishes in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. Running on a [[conservative]] platform and a life-long registered [[Republican Party|Republican]], Mills unseated [[Ryan Gatti]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Bossier City]], who was seeking his second term in the [[general election]] held on November 16, 2019. Mills is one the first state legislative candidates to be endorsed by [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]], who urged voter support for Mills in pre-election rallies in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and Bossier City while Trump was campaigning for the unsuccessful Republican [[governor|gubernatorial]] candidate, [[Eddie Rispone]].

 

Mills was unseated after one term by another Republican, [[Adam Bass]], who claimed in the campaign to be a more reliable Republican than had been Mills.

==Background==

==Background==

Mills graduated (year not available) from [[Clifton Ellis Byrd]] High School in [[Shreveport]], where he resided until he relocated to  

Mills graduated (year not available; probably 1971) from [[Clifton Ellis Byrd]] High School in [[Shreveport]], where he resided until he relocated to Benton in Bossier Parish. In 1976, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from [[Louisiana State University]]in [[Baton Rouge]]. He since was employed in the [[petroleum]], [[natural gas]], and lumber businesses. Since 2015, he has been the vice president of Crude Oil Supply, South.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/election/2019/11/16/robert-mills-wins-louisiana-state-senate-district-36/4205339002/|title=Robert Mills defeats Ryan Gatti in State Senate District 36|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 16, 2019|author=Emily Enfinger|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

Benton in Bossier Parish. In 1976, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from [[Louisiana State University]]in [[Baton Rouge]]. He since was employed in the [[petroleum]], [[natural gas]], and lumber businesses. Since 2015, he has been the vice president of Crude Oil Supply, South.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/election/2019/11/16/robert-mills-wins-louisiana-state-senate-district-36/4205339002/|title=Robert Mills defeats Ryan Gatti in State Senate District 36|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 16, 2019|author=Emily Enfinger|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

Mills has worked on projects in many nations, including [[Canada]], [[Mexico]], [[Guatemala]], [[Venezuela]], [[Indonesia]], [[China]], and [[India]]. Mills said that he expects to complete his "most important project" through service as a state senator in Baton Rouge: I’m running for state Senate because there’s a leadership void and a lack of urgency on the part of career politicians. We’re sluggish while other states are aggressive. I want to get Louisiana back on track, off the bottom, and moving in the right direction."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bossierpress.com/robert-mills-to-announces-candidacy-for-state-senate-in-2019/|title=Robert Mills to Announce Candidacy for State Senate in 2019|publisher=''The Bossier Press''|date=December 11, 2018|accessdate=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

Mills has worked on projects in many nations, including [[Canada]], [[Mexico]], [[Guatemala]], [[Venezuela]], [[Indonesia]], [[China]], and [[India]]. Mills said that he expects to complete his "most important project" through service as a state senator in Baton Rouge: I’m running for state Senate because there’s a leadership void and a lack of urgency on the part of career politicians. We’re sluggish while other states are aggressive. I want to get Louisiana back on track, off the bottom, and moving in the right direction."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bossierpress.com/robert-mills-to-announces-candidacy-for-state-senate-in-2019/|title=Robert Mills to Announce Candidacy for State Senate in 2019|publisher=''The Bossier Press''|date=December 11, 2018|accessdate=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2021, Mills, who campaigned two years earlier as a conservative, joined five other North Louisiana state senators previously considered conservatives, [[Barrow Peacock]], [[Jay Morris]], [[Barry Milligan]], [[Mike Reese]], and [[Stewart Cathey]], in voting to extend a $400 million temporary state sales tax (.45 percent) even though the state is awaiting a windfall in federal [[coronavirus]] stimulus funding. Mills' vote was even in contrast to the Democratic Senator [[Greg Tarver]] of Caddo Parish, who opposed the tax extension.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 28, 2021.</ref>

In May 2021, Mills, who campaigned two years earlier as a conservative, joined five other North Louisiana state senators previously considered conservatives, [[Barrow Peacock]], [[Jay Morris]], [[Barry Milligan]], [[Mike Reese]], and [[Stewart Cathey]], in voting to extend a $400 million temporary state sales tax (.45 percent) even though the state is awaiting a windfall in federal [[coronavirus]] stimulus funding. Mills' vote was even in contrast to the Democratic Senator [[Greg Tarver]] of Caddo Parish, who opposed the tax extension.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' May 28, 2021.</ref>

With only 38 percent of the vote, Mills was handily defeated in his bid for Senate reelection in the primary held on October 14, 2023, by another Republican, [[Adam Bass]], an [[insurance]] agent and a member of the Bossier Parish School Board who maintained that Mills had not been a reliable conservative in his senatorial voting record.

With only 38 percent of the vote, Mills was handily defeated in his bid for Senate reelection in the primary held on October 14, 2023, by fellow Republican, [[Adam Bass]], an [[insurance]] agent and a member of the Bossier Parish School Board who maintained that Mills had not been a reliable conservative in his senatorial voting record.

==References==

==References==