William Gates

Bill Gates is Executive Director of the ASU Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory (MODL) and Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. He leads MODL’s efforts to professionalize election administration through practitioner-focused training, transparency initiatives, and the integration of emerging technologies. In 2025, he launched the AI + Elections Clinic to equip election officials nationwide with the tools and expertise to responsibly harness artificial intelligence in support of voter confidence and election integrity.

Bill previously served two terms on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (2017–2024), overseeing elections in one of the nation’s largest voting jurisdictions during the highly scrutinized 2020 and 2022 election cycles. He also served on the Phoenix City Council (2009–2016), including as Vice Mayor.

Bill is the recipient of various awards, commending his years of leadership, service, and defense of democracy including The American Bar Association’s Unsung Hero of Democracy Award in 2024, The Truman Foundation’s Joseph E. Stevens Public Service Award in 2022, The Arizona Republic’s 2021 Arizonan of the Year, and The Phoenix Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 in 2010.  Bill was named to the Maricopa County Bar Association Hall of Fame in 2025.