Simplify the following text for a Grade 5 native English-speaking person.
Original: Michael Dale `` Mike '' Huckabee ( born August 24 , 1955 ) was the 44th Governor of Arkansas , serving from 1996 to 2007 .
Simplified: Michael Dale `` Mike '' Huckabee ( born August 24 1955 ) is a former governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas . He was governor from 1996 to 2007 .