Military career Gilmore started his public service when he enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps in 1969 and after assignments at
Camp Pendleton,
El Toro, and
Okinawa, he received his honorable discharge and upon graduation from the CHP Academy in 1972 embarked upon a 31-year career with the
California Highway Patrol.
CHP career Gilmore was a CHP officer from 1972 until 2003. He worked for the
South Los Angeles,
Oceanside,
Sacramento,
King City, and
Hanford CHP office during his career. In 1981, Gilmore was promoted to sergeant and assigned to King City. His subsequent promotion to Lieutenant saw him assigned as the Hanford Area Commander. Promoted to Captain, Gilmore was assigned as Commander of the
Visalia Area in 1995. His final promotion, before retiring in 2003, was as Assistant Chief to the Central Division Headquarters,
Fresno. Gilmore also led the Patrol's Physical Training Unit. Cited as one of the most demanding training programs in law enforcement, Gilmore drilled CHP Cadets daily for four years. Active with his fellow law enforcement colleagues, Gilmore held membership with the
California Peace Officers' Association, the
Tulare County Chiefs Association and is a lifetime member of the California Highway Patrolman's Association.
California State Assembly 2006 election In one of the closest elections of the cycle, Gilmore lost the election to incumbent
Nicole Parra by less than 900 votes.
2008 election As Assemblywoman
Nicole Parra (Gilmore's predecessor and 2006 opponent) and State Senator
Dean Florez (Parra's predecessor) have been feuding for years, Parra refused to endorse
Shafter Mayor
Fran Florez, Dean Florez's mother and Gilmore's Democratic opponent in the race. Instead, Parra, a Democrat, crossed party lines to endorse Gilmore, a Republican. Gilmore defeated Florez in the November 4, 2008 general election, and succeeded Parra in representing the 30th Assembly District.
2010 election Florez announced that she would seek a rematch against Gilmore. She faced a primary challenge from Pete Parra, the father of former Assemblywoman
Nicole Parra. On January 19, 2010, Gilmore announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection. He endorsed
David Valadao, a dairy farmer, to succeed him. Valadao defeated Florez in the general election. ==Personal life==