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The Los Alamitos City Council is saddened to announce that Council Member Ronald R. Bates passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Ron Bates was 76 years of age and is survived by his wife, Marilynn, two daughters and two grandchildren.
“I was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Councilman Ron Bates,” said Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink. “Ron loved his City and served with integrity and passion. As an outstanding public servant with over 5 decades of experience as both an elected official and city management, he led by example and mentored so many leaving a legacy for generations to come. I was honored to serve with and learn from Ron and his absence will leave a large void on our council.”
Ron Bates was elected in 2020 to serve as the District 2 Council Member for the City of Los Alamitos. He had previously served on the City Council from 1988 to 2004.
With over fifty years of public service, Mr. Bates’ commitment and dedication to public service was truly unmatched. He was highly respected in city management circles, having managed the cities of Buena Park, South Gate, Pico Rivera and La Habra Heights before transitioning to the private sector. He also taught public finance and public works administration at California State University, Long Beach.
In addition to his service to the Los Alamitos Community, Mr. Bates also served as a Board President and Revenue and Taxation Committee member for the League of California Cities’ and Vice Chair of the California Massage Therapy Council. He was also recently appointed to the Orange County Solid Waste Committee and was a Board Member and Secretary of Anaheim Regional Hospital.
A tireless advocate for public safety and community businesses, Mr. Bates was recently recognized as a Cal State University, Los Angeles Distinguished Alumni, where he completed his undergraduate work in Government and Physics. He also held a Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in Public Administration.
“Mr. Bates was a tireless champion for the Los Alamitos community and someone that never missed an opportunity to lend his support to others. Given the countless hours of service that Ron gave to our City and the surrounding communities, I know that we are not alone in our grief. He was a great partner and mentor,” stated City Manager Chet Simmons.
Los Alamitos honors the memory of Ron Bates and his service to build a better community.
