Personal Biography

A lifelong resident of the seventh Legislative district, I grew up on a 320 acre wheat and hog farm south of Kettle Falls. I had daily chores at an early age, at age twelve I began driving a D-4 cat working the summer fallow and started operating a combine at fourteen.  When not in school or working on the farm, I spent nearly every spare minute hunting, fishing and exploring the nearby woods and streams.  At twelve I began shooting trap at the Kettle Falls Gun Club and enjoyed competitive trap shooting for over three decades.

I’m a twelve year graduate of the Kettle Falls School System.  While in high school I participated in Future Farmers of America, school sports, student government and the board of directors of the Gun Club.  After high school, my love for the outdoors led me to pursue a degree in Forestry at Spokane Community College.  While in college, I was the President of the Natural Resources Association and participated on the Rodeo and Logger Sports teams.

Following college, I returned home and worked several years as a forest technician.  At twenty-six I transitioned to self employment opening a forestry consulting business and soon began investing in timber and recreational real estate in Stevens County.  Also during this period I remained active in community volunteer activities and the two great joys of my life; my daughter Heidi and son Dane were born.

In the mid eighties I took what was supposed to be a temporary winter job at the Kettle Falls Generating Station with Washington Water Power (WWP). This soon turned into a full-time equipment operator job, followed by a promotion to an auxiliary operator position.  While working for WWP I remained active in forestry, real estate investing, local and statewide community service, along with being a partner in the family farm.

In 1993, I was appointed to the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission. After about six months on the Commission and having used nearly all of my vacation time to attend Commission functions, I concluded that having a full-time “time clock” type job was not conducive to being a member of the Commission. I left WWP and started a full time career in real estate, allowing me the flexibility required to devote the time necessary to be an effective member of the Commission. During my ten years on the Commission, I served as vice-chair for two years, and Chairman for two years, and became a Grandfather too.

I am currently active in agriculture, forestry, real estate management and fish and wildlife issues. I have been getting my life prepared to pursue a position in the State Legislature when the opportunity presented itself. That opportunity is here and I will work hard to earn your vote, both in the primary election in August and the general election in November.