Mike's parents moved to Golden Valley when he was six weeks old, and he has lived there ever since. He attended schools in the area, including kindergarten through sixth grade at Meadowbrook Elementary School on Glenwood Avenue. He and his wife Lauren just bought a house on Olympia Street where they live with their two cats.
Mike has a long record of public service. While in college, he interned for Golden Valley's U.S. Representative at the time, Martin Olav Sabo, and for Senator Paul Wellstone. After college, he worked as a Legislative Assistant to another legislator from Minnesota, Congressman James L. Oberstar, specializing in health care and education. After graduating second in his class from law school, he went to work at the legislature. He is currently working as a Public Health Attorney. In this capacity, he helped craft Minnesota's recently adopted smoke-free workplace law. He is a member of such groups as the Golden Valley League of Women Voters, the Robbinsdale Schools Legislative Action Coalition, and the Golden Valley Historical Society. 
Mike (second from left) attends the signing of the "Freedom to Breathe" Act, which prohibited smoking in public places across Minnesota, with a bipartisan group of elected officials. In 2003, Golden Valley residents elected Mike to the City Council. While on the Council, he has made responding to residents his top priority. He fought to keep Golden Valley's current water system, which the city was able to do at a greatly discounted rate. He helped enact Golden Valley's strong smoke-free ordinance, laying the foundation that enabled the state to adopt its strong smoke-free law only this May. Finally, he helped bring affordable housing to the community. Mike believes Golden Valley is a great place to live, a great place to raise a family. He looks forward to helping lead Golden Valley well into the 21st Century. |