DCCC - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

EXPERIENCE:

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Mike is going to fight for Northeast Indiana, home to 150 years of his family, where he was raised and educated, and where he and his family live today.  Prior  to practicing law, Mike served then Indiana Governor Joe Kernan, then U.S. Congressman Tim Roemer (Washington, D.C. and District offices), as well as, state and federal courts.  More recently, Mike assisted now Congressman Joe Donnelly in his 2006 congressional victory through organizing voter protection in the Second District.

Mike also spent a year drafting and interpreting legislation at the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Mike was a 2005 recipient of the American Bar Association Award of Recognition for Excellence in Local Government and Land Use Law.He has also co-organized a symposium on legislative ethics, and presented along side experts such as Roberta Baskin of the Center for Public Integrity. 

EDUCATION:

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Mike earned his B.A. degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where he majored in economics and political science and his J.D., cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law as a Law and State Government Fellow.  During law school, Mike served as Executive Production Editor of the Law Review and also as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Society.  In addition to his undergraduate and law degrees, Mike studied economics at the University of London (UCL), London, England.

FAMILY:

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Mike and his family have a long history of serving Northeast Indiana.  His great grandfather worked on the New York Central railroad in Elkhart County.  His grandfather Casey Montagano was the first to graduate from High school in his family and started Casey's restaurant in Elkhart County. His grandfather Robert Kirkby (pictured left) owned the local grocery store in town.  His father was the first to graduate from college in his family and is a small business owner in Elkhart County today.  Mike has served the people of the third district under great leaders; Rep. Tim Roemer and Gov. Joe Kernan.  He is seeking this office to serve Northeast indiana, which has been a home to many generations of his family and many more to come. 

Mike is married to Bethany (pictured), his college sweetheart. Bethany and Michael reside in his hometown of Bristol, Indiana in Elkhart County, in the same neighborhood he grew up.