Supervisor Bill Gates

Bill Gates began his service on the Board of Supervisors in January of 2017. Gates represents District Three, which stretches from Central Phoenix to Anthem.

Gates served on the Phoenix City Council from June of 2009 through May of 2016. He also served as Vice Mayor of Phoenix from January 2013 to February of 2014. He represented a diverse district including Moon Valley, Sunnyslope, and Paradise Valley Mall area. His priorities on the City Council included fiscal responsibility, economic development, fighting blight, encouraging innovation, finding efficiencies, and improving public safety.

As Chair of the City of Phoenix’s Finance, Efficiency, Economy and Sustainability Committee, Councilman Gates helped identify over $100 million in annual efficiency savings. His commitment to government efficiency led Governor Brewer to appoint him to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council, working to make sure the rules governing state agencies are clear, concise, and worth the cost. He also served as a member of Governor Ducey’s transition team.

Gates is Associate General Counsel and Director of Distribution for PING, a Phoenix-based golf equipment manufacturer. Prior to that, he was an associate at the firm of Fennemore Craig, practicing commercial litigation with an emphasis in property tax litigation.

Gates has served in a variety of capacities with nonprofit and community organizations including INROADS, American Legion Boys State, the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar, and United Blood Services Arizona Community Leadership Council. He is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class 28.  He is a Board Member for the Foundation for Blind Children, The Phoenix Symphony, Blood Systems, Inc., and Disabled Sports USA.

Gates is a graduate of Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Drake University in 1993 and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1996. Councilman Gates is married and has two daughters.

Laura D. Etter, J.D.
Chief of Staff

Laura is Chief of Staff for Supervisor Bill Gates.  As Chief of Staff, Laura provides a visible link between elected officials and the public, acting as a representative of the Supervisor in dealings with constituents (both individually and in groups), County Departments, Boards and Commissions, and providing staff assistance to the Supervisor and Board.  She serves as policy advisor and develops yearly strategic plans and priorities for the District.  She also supervises the constituent service function, resolves complex cases, conducts research and report writing, and oversees office operations including supervising other positions in the office, and budget and calendar management.  Laura was chief of staff for Councilman Bill Gates at the city of Phoenix. 

Laura is a Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Valley Young Professionals Board Member.  Laura is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class 32, a leadership development organization in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.  She remains actively involved in the organization as a Community Steward and served two years as a Leadership Institute Vice Chair.  She previously chaired the Community Engagement Program Day, coordinating the joint program day with Hispanic Leadership Institute.  She is a former 56th Fighter Wing Honorary Commander with Luke Air Force Base and a life member of the Fighter Country Partnership Blue Blazer Squadron – Bravo Class.  Additionally, she is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and has served as Membership Chair for the Central Arizona Young Leaders Group, part of the ULI Main Membership Committee, on the ULI YLG Programming committee and on the Regional Visioning Committee.

Laura holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Arizona State University.  She received her Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and graduated with a Dean’s Award.  She is licensed to practice law in both Arizona and California.  Prior to working with Supervisor Gates, Laura was Senior Associate for a Phoenix-based public affairs and government relations firm where she provided representation for public and private sector clients within state, county, and local government and also worked at a Southern California law firm focused on advanced estate planning, estate taxation, and corporation formation for high net worth clients.

Zachary J. Schira
Deputy Chief of Staff

Zachary is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Supervisor Bill Gates. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Zachary takes on the roles and responsibilities associated with constituent services, newsletter creation, calendar and office management, as well as social media strategies.

Zachary was born and raised in Arizona and is a graduate of Tempe Marcos de Niza High School. He holds a B.A. from the University of Dayton and was 5 year collegiate athlete, playing both baseball and football. His professional experience includes working in the tech sector for local corporation Insight, a Global Fortune 500 company, as well as, working on previous local political campaigns.