My Qualifications |

Finance and Budgeting: I currently help set and approve budgets for all areas of Benton County government. This includes the Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, District Court, Superior Court, Juvenile Justice Center, Prosecutor’s Office, Treasurer, and Sheriff’s Office.

I am the current Benton County Commissioner and Chairman of the Benton County Board of Commissioners. I have a strong business background with over 30 years of extensive finance and business experience. I have kept Benton County financially stable and maintained a balanced budget while increasing services for our residents. While other Washington counties and cities face deficits and service reductions, Benton County remains in strong financial condition. I use taxpayer dollars wisely, reduce wasteful spending, and increase funding for public safety, infrastructure, and economic development that supports family‑wage jobs.

I am responsible for the well‑being of approximately 700 Benton County employees and oversee 15 departments under the Board of Commissioners. These include Public Works, Facilities, Office of Public Defense, Human Resources, Community Development, Risk Management, Jail, Human Services, Capital Projects, Procurement, and Information Technology, among others. I also collaborate closely with city mayors, city managers, and other elected officials throughout Benton County to ensure that essential county services are effectively provided. This includes ensuring funding for the entire judicial system in Benton County!

Michael’s Addtional duties as your Benton County Commissioner: Chairman of the Benton County Board of Commissioners, Co-Chair Benton County Emergeny Services, Chariman of the Board Benton Franklin Health District, Benton County Finance Committee, Chairman Benton County LEOFF Disability Board, Engery Communities Alliance board member, Greater Columbia Behavioral Health board member, Metro Drug Task Force board member, Prosser Economic Development Assocation ex-officio officer, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce ex-officio officer, Benton City Library Capital Facilities Area Board member, Benton Franklin Transit board member Alt., Benton Franklin Council of Governments board member, Washington State Association of Counties Legislative Steering Committee, Workforce Development, Yakima Fish & Wildlife Recovery board member, Yakima Basin Integrated plan.

Past Mayor for the City of Richland: Duties and Experience: Manage, review and approve a $320 million dollar plus city budget! Proposing and passing laws and ordinances. Approving residential and commercial development in the city as well as reviewing and approving economic development projects that would benefit the citizens of Richland and Benton County as a whole.

Michael’s additional duties have consisted of when a Mayor and city councilman of Richland: liaison assignments to the Planning Commission, Economic Development Committee, Code Enforcement Board, Art’s Commission, Richland Senior Association, Port of Kennewick, Hanford Communities Governing Board Member, Energy Communities Alliance, Benton Franklin Community Action Committee Board Member, Tri-Cities National Parks Committee Co-Chair, Richland Ex Officio for the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce, Richland Police Pension Board Chair, Richland Fire Fighters Pension Board Chair, and Richland City Council’s Capital Improvement Project Committee member.
Also To Note: The entire city council appointed myself to Richland’s Capitial Improvement Projects Committee to review the city budget to ensure proposed city projects could be funded. I am honored knowing the city council trusted my financial experience and judgement to help ensure the financial health of Richland!
Veteran: United States Marine Corp.

Bachelors Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration – Human Resource Management, NMSU
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: (branch campus) Kaneohe Marine Corp. Base HI
Past WR Faculty Member & Master Instructor: Teaching Finance, Advanced Business Management, Consumer Protection and Code of Ethics to professional associations throughout Washington State.
Local Business Owner: Finance/Mortgage company for over 30 years. Have an A+ Rating with the BBB their highest award they provide. I understand what it takes to run a successful business!
Commissioner: Richland Parks & Recreation Commission
Current Active Member: – United States Coast Guard Auxiliary | some of my past duties have included being a Finance Officer, and a Rescue Survival Systems Officer.

Treasurer Tri-Cities Association of Realtors: I understand how to read financial statements, balance sheets, profit and loss statements. My years of financial experience has come in handy when asking city staff about cost over runs and budget increases.
Scout Volunteer: Vice President (Funding Development) and Excutive Board member Boy Scouts of America Blue Mountain Council
Past Law Enforcement: NMSU Police, NM
Past President: Tri-Cities Association of Realtors
Past Washington Realtors Chairman of a Presidential Advisor Group: Creating a Leadership and Professional Development program to help encourage individuals to become local leaders through various training programs. This is offered to professional associations and non-profits. Olympia, WA.
FEMA: 2017 Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Mangement Systems
Coach/Volunteer: Richland Youth Sports & Richland National Little League
National Child Identification Program: Volunteer
Security Education & Training Awareness USCG Aux. (2017 Training, Test Score-100%)
Prevention of Sexual Harrassment USCG Aux. (2017 Training, Test Score-100%)
Civil Rights Awarenss USCG Aux. (2017 Training, Test Score-100%)
Ethics Training USCG Aux. (2017 Training, Test Score-100%)

Benton County Commissioner District 2, Benton County WA, Richland WA, Kennewick WA, West Richland WA, Patterson WA, Benton City WA, Prosser WA