I’ve lived in Clallam County my entire life,
and I’m committed to our shared success.
Homegrown.
My wife and I were born and raised in Port Angeles, and I’m committed to giving back to the community that educated and supported me. After graduating from Port Angeles High School, Peninsula College, and Central Washington University, I came back to my hometown and ran a business downtown for 15 years, successfully taking it through the 2008 Recession and the COVID-19 Pandemic before selling it to two former employees who are currently operating it.
Connected.
I’ve always been deeply connected to my community. My wife and I have both performed with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra and with other local musical organizations. When my son entered kindergarten in the Port Angeles School District, I joined the Hamilton Elementary PTO and served as Vice President for six years. More recently, I served on the PASD Capital Advisory Committee that helped the School Board design the new Hurricane Ridge Middle School. I’ve also served on various non-profit boards, including as the Board President for the Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (formerly known as VIMO) - the organization that created the ReDiscovery co-response and outreach program that helps connect struggling folks to treatment and housing services.
Committed.
I ran for Port Angeles City Council in 2017 because I thought my voice as a local business owner would be valuable. I discovered that I loved learning about public policy, especially when I could make a difference for my community. I served for five years on the Port Angeles City Council, followed by four years as a Clallam County Commissioner. I have been committed for the past nine years to identifying challenges facing our community and working on making Clallam County a better place for all.
Mike speaking at the Sequim Library Groundbreaking ceremony
Focused.
My experience in private business and public office has taught me that we need less divisive rhetoric and more action. I’ve been focused on meaningful, actionable policy changes that provide more flexibility for housing development, meaningful public safety investments, more treatment options for people struggling with homelessness and substance use disorder, and win/win climate policies that save taxpayers money while mitigating and adapting to climate change.
But my largest focus has been economic development, where I chaired a coalition of local leaders who produced a regional economic development plan that brought $35.6 million of federal investment to the North Olympic Peninsula to create more good jobs and provide training and support to our residents that need access to living-wage jobs.
Mike at YMCA childcare center ground breaking.