Mike Kehoe is the youngest of six children. Mike’s father walked out, leaving Mike, his mother, and five other children to fend for themselves. His mother worked three jobs to support the family, while Mike and his siblings also went to work to help buy groceries and pay the bills.
At age 15, Mike started washing cars for Dave Sinclair, and quickly advanced through the ranks of the dealership to become the New Truck Sales Manager at the age of 23.
At 25, Mike went to prepare Osage Industries, a van conversion and ambulance manufacturing company in the town of Linn, MO, to be sold because it was losing money badly. Mike purchased the company and over the course of the next five years, Osage Industries doubled in size and expanded sales across the nation. Today, Osage Industries is one of the largest ambulance manufacturers in the world.
Then In 1992, the Jefferson City Ford dealership went for sale. Ford agreed to take a chance on Mike, making him one of the youngest dealers in the nation. He moved to Jefferson City, built the business and became rooted in schools, business and community organizations.
In the nearly 30 years since, Mike has been deeply involved in the Central Missouri Community, serving as chairman of the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, two-time United Way Fund Drive Chairman, and multiple other community organizations. He remains active in community business development and youth development activities including Boy Scouts, 4-H, and the Special Olympics of Missouri.
Mike was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission (MHTC), where he served four-and-a-half years, including as its Chairman. During that time Missouri’s road system went from 3rd worst to 5th best in the country.
In 2010 Mike was elected to the State Senate and later the Majority Floor leader where he worked across the party lines securing passage of balanced budgets that fully funded local public schools and laws protecting children and seniors from sexual predators. He helped get government out of the way of business to create jobs by cutting burdensome regulations, reduced taxes, and reforms to end frivolous law suits. This year alone he has helped Missouri create 35,000 new jobs.
As Lieutenant Governor, Mike is working to highlight Missouri businesses and manufacturers and is working to further grow new jobs. As a member of the Tourism Commission, he tirelessly works to promote Missouri’s third largest industry.
As Lieutenant Governor, Mike also serves as the official advocate for Missouri seniors, standing up for seniors’ rights and interests. He works closely with veterans’ organizations and legislators to see that our state government keeps their promises to the men and women who have served our country.
Mike sees his service in public office as a way of giving back to the community and state which has been so good and supportive to him. His priorities are simple: Provide every child with a world class education, expand workforce development to help every Missourian prepare and learn new job skills so they can realize their potential, and cut red tape and burdensome regulations to attract high paying jobs to Missouri.
Mike and his wife, Claudia, are proud parents of four children. Mike is a champion cutting horse rider and a successful cattle farmer on a 700 acre farm in Phelps and Pulaski Counties.
