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Meet Mike

If I'm going to ask you to put the future of this great nation in my hands as one of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, I believe it's as important for you to know who I am as a person as it is to know about my political philosophy and positions on key political issues.

I was born in Gainesville, Florida to a father, who was born in Jacksonville, Fl and, along with his 4 brothers, served in the Army in WWII, and a mother who was born in Goliad Texas and raised in Jacksonville. Her 2 brothers also served in WWII. One was killed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. I have one younger brother who lives with his family in Summerville, SC. I've lived and been educated in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. I moved to Gainesville, GA in the fall of 1988.

I was ordained as a minister in the Episcopal Church by my grandfather in 1965 and, with the exception of several years when I worked in the field of social service programs for the aging for the State of Florida, I served small and large congregations in Kentucky, Florida and Georgia. I retired in 2006 from St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Oakwood, a congregation I started in 1997.

In 1970, in response to the unfortunate way that many Americans treated members of the Armed Forces returning from Viet Nam, I became a chaplain in the Naval Reserve. I wore the uniform of my country proudly for 30 years, retiring in 2000 as a Captain, (Full colonel).

Having lived all my life so far in the South, I believe I have a good understanding of southern culture, values, history and aspirations. I've lived in large urban cities and small rural communities. In the summers of my high school and college years I worked on farms, and in small and large businesses. In Florida I started, and for 11 years, managed a very successful social service non-profit agency. In Athens, before returning to full-time ministry, I was the branch manager for a multi-state, highly competitive, for profit business.

My wife, Pat, and I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren living in Birmingham, AL, Nashville, TN, Milton, FL and Murrayville, GA. Pat is the Director of the 13 NE county Area Agency on Aging called Legacy Link. We are both active Rotarians and involved in numerous community activities. In keeping with the traditions of the Episcopal Church and as a courtesy to my successor, we now worship at Christ Lutheran Church ELCA, a collegial denomination in Oakwood.