Web site: www.michael4mayor.com

DOB: 7/30/57
Occupation: Technical marketing engineer, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Education: Some college, several technical certifications.

Family/personal: Single; Washington resident since 1981; Snoqualmie resident since 1999; hometown: Detroit.

Public service/volunteer experience: Creator of the city of Snoqualmie WA Residents Newsgroup. Residents wanted an easy way to communicate with each other, while city staff and public safety wanted to hear their candid comments. With the approval of Mayor Fuzzy Fletcher and the legal nod from City Attorney Pat Anderson, I launched a Yahoo! newsgroup, which now includes more than 400 members. I also created North Bend’s newsgroup.

Facilitator of the City of Snoqualmie’s Block Watch Network. Working with fellow community leader Christina Clark and Officer Kim Stonebreaker of the Snoqualmie Police Department, I started a local version of this popular nationwide program, which can help prevent and reduce residential burglaries and break-ins, drug/party houses, vandalism, malicious mischief, graffiti, vehicle prowling and theft.

Initiator of Snoqualmie’s E-lert system. The Police Department uses E-lerts to send e-mails to residents whenever there’s a danger or public nuisance at large. I introduced the idea to city staff as a way to increase citizens’ power to protect ourselves and then worked with staff to implement it.

Additional involvement: registered citizen observer with Snoqualmie Police Department; regular attendee of and speaker at bi-monthly City Council meetings since 1999; excellent working relationships with entire Snoqualmie and North Bend city staff; elected and re-elected as voting representative to the association and block watch captain of the 82-home Fairway South Community; member and active volunteer of the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater, a 95-acre private park and outdoor theater.
As part of my contribution to Snoqualmie United Methodist Church, I support the LAN, as well as donated the network infrastructure; donate time and expertise supporting local businesses' WIFI Hotspots, in attempts to keep them as competitive as other businesses in other parts of King County; volunteer telecommunications coordinator for the Virginia Mason, Seattle (Boeing) Champions Tour at TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge.

What two issues concern you most in the race? Retain the Snoqualmie Police Department. The citizens have spoken: Our officers do a great job and we want them, not King County, to protect our families. My plan: Work with Chief Schaffer to review the operating budget, and find ways to decrease escalating costs without compromising our safety. Increase tourism to keep city finances healthy for years to come. More than a million people visit the Falls every year; surely we can get them to spend more money at our downtown businesses. Roger Brooks, the consultant who assessed our tourism situation, has already given us dozens of “to-dos” that will make our city more attractive to shoppers. My plan: Work with city staff to determine 50 to 75 of the least costly, quickest-to-implement changes and then appoint a staff member to complete them all within a reasonable timeframe. For example, friendly signage on 202 between the Falls and North Bend’s Outlet Mall would steer drivers through downtown Snoqualmie. Part of the charge would also be to work with the City of North Bend and the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, as many of Mr. Brooks’ recommendations involve promoting the Valley as a whole. Review city budgets line-by-line. In addition to adding revenues via tourism, we need to make sure every dollar we spend has some return on investment. My plan: Research the feasibility of using an independent firm with professional experience in city finances to suggest the most practical and least painful cuts.