About Michael

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I have been part of this community for almost 50 years! My family, like many others in this area, made their way here via the military! We moved to Mather Air Force Base just after Christmas 1974 after my father was stationed there. When he retired from the Air Force in the summer of 1976 we settled in the Vineyards neighborhood of Rancho Cordova, down the street from my childhood park, Federspiel Park.  Federspiel Park is first park in the district and was where the first district office was located.

Before his retirement, I attended Mather Heights Elementary School and then moved to Rancho Cordova Elementary School in the fall of 1976.  I am a proud Mills Junior High School Mustang and a Cordova Senior High School Lancer, Class of 1987! All of my siblings are graduates also, Class of 1979, 1980, 1982, 1982, 1984 & 1985!

My wife Stephanie and I have been married for over 33 years! We met after high school at work. I discovered we attended elementary and high school around the same time, but our paths never crossed either time! She is the Class of 1986! We settled in Rancho Cordova to raise our three daughters. All three of our daughters attended Rancho Cordova schools and all graduated from Cordova High School. Samantha, Class of 2009, Molly, Class of 2012 and Emily, Class of 2016.

I am currently a customer supervisor with Sacramento Regional Transit. Prior to this, I held supervisory positions at Health Net of California and Covered California. Both offices were located in Rancho Cordova.  I also spent many great years working at VSP and AAA in various roles. But my very first job was at 10 years old! I was a paper carrier for The Grapevine Independent newspaper.

 Over the years we have owned homes in the Cordova Lane neighborhood, the Stone Creek neighborhood and now the Cresleigh Ranch neighborhood. We have lived in what is now called District 3 for the last 22 years.  I have lived and/or worked in this community since that cold and foggy night we arrived at temporary base housing in late 1974.  We moved from San Bernadino, CA, a "slightly" warmer climate! 

I interviewed for a vacancy on the Cordova Recreation and Park District Board of Directors on April 29, 2015. The remaining four directors voted unanimously to appoint me to the remainder of the open seat's term. I was sworn in on May 20, 2015 surrounded by my family and friends. I was reelected in 2016 and 2020.

I was honored to serve as board chair on 2019 & 2023, vice-chair in 2018 and board secretary in 2017 & 2022. I have also served on many committees during my time including Budget & Finance, City 2x2, School Board 2x2. 

Since joining the board  I have served as an at-large director. Before the 2022 General Election, the board approved moving to by-district elections instead of at-large elections.  The by-district elections for Districts 1, 2 & 5 were in 2022. By-district elections for District 3 & 4 are this November 5, 2024!

It has been a very busy time since joining the board. We have opened eleven new parks.  All but one of these parks is located in District 3. Three new parks, Hummingbird Park, Gold Rush Park and Aura Park  officially opened this year in District 3. Two additional parks, Exploration Park and Rock Rose Park are planned to open before the end of the year.  The district also opened W.H. Williamson Park in District 1 in 2023. The first new park in that area of the district since the 1960's. There are numerous new parks and facilities in various stages of planning and development that will keep the district very busy for many years! 

The district has also completed over two-hundred, big and small, capital improvement projects totaling $19 million.

The district's operating budget has increased from $10 million in 2015-2016 to $20 million for 2024-2025,  The Capital Improvement Budget and New Park Development totaled $65 million during the same 10 years.

The district has been recognized with twenty Awards of Excellence  from various local,  regional and state agencies. The district recently received  two of these awards from the California Special Districts Association(CSDA).  The district received the  District of Distinction Gold Accreditation and the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence!

The district has seen an increase in revenue and reserves during this time span and an improved bond rating from BBB+ to A-! 

One of my proudest moments was the planning and construction of the new Cordova Community Pools at Hagan Community Park. The original pools had outlived their lifecycle by many years! We officially opened the new pools on June 28, 2021! This was a much needed amenity for the community and the Cordova High School Swim & Dive Teams. Providing swim lessons are vital to a community that sits along the American River.  We collaborated with the City of Rancho Cordova to rebuild this community gem! 

I have volunteered in my community for many years.

I was a member of the Site Councils at Cordova Lane Elementary School, Navigator Elementary School  and Cordova High School, appointed as a parent representative on the FCUSD  Measure M & P Oversight Committees and volunteered in many other ways at all of our daughters schools.

I was also involved with youth soccer and softball for many years. I was a recreation and select coach, board member and club manager for the Rancho Cordova Soccer Club, a board member of American River Youth Soccer League and also vice president of Cordova Girls Softball.

I also volunteered with the Cordova Community Council and I am a founding member of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association. 

Rancho Cordova Athletic Association

2013: Founding Member

2013-2015: Secretary

Leadership Rancho Cordova

2014-2016 Governing Board

2014: Graduate of Class VIII

Rancho Cordova Youth Soccer Club (RCSC)

2002: Coach

2003: U-6 Age Coordinator

2004: Coach & U-8 Boys Age Coordinator

2005: Coach & U-8 Girls Age Coordinator

2006: Coach & U-6 Age Coordinator

2007-2009: Club Manager & Coach

2012: Coach

American River Youth Soccer League (ARYSL)

2007: Board Member – RCSC Representative

2008: Board Member – RCSC Representative

2009: Board Member – RCSC Representative

2010: League Treasurer

Cordova Girls Softball League

2010-2011: League Vice President

2011-2012: League Vice President

2012-2013: Secretary

2013-2014: Secretary

2014-2015: NORCAL Representative

Folsom Cordova Unified School District

Cordova Lane Elementary School Site Council

1998-2006: Elected Parent Representative

Navigator Elementary School Site Council

2006-2008: Elected Parent Representative

Cordova High School Site Council

2014-2015: Parent Representative

Measure M & P Oversight Committees

2014 - 2016: Parent/PTSO Member Representative