Legislative Leadership: Senate Republican Leader, 2005-06; Senate Republican Whip, 2005; Majority Whip, 2003-04; Republican Assistant Whip, 2001-02.

Elective Office: Senate 2000, 2004.

Standing Committees (2007-08): Rules, Ranking Republican Member; Ways & Means; Early Learning & K-12 Education; Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.

Special Committees: Legislative Committee on Economic Development; State Treasurer's Bond Financing Advisory Committee; State Tourism Commission; Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy; Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB); Horse Racing Commission; Thrive by Five; Senate Facilities & Operations Committee.

Occupation: Full-time Legislator.

Professional Activities: Small business owner for 23 years; Former Chairman, Walla Walla Planning Commission; advocate for small business issues.

Awards and Honors: Glenn Galbreath Spirit Award, Northwest Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans; Association of Washington Business "Cornerstone" award; Association of Washington Business "Cornerstone" Award; Dr. Pedro Celis FUERZA Award, Washington Republican National Hispanic Assembly; Preserving Our Precious Places Award, Capitol Land Trust; Outstanding Support Award, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless; Outstanding Support Award, Washington State Low-Income Alliance; Small Business Advocate of the Year, Washington Association of Small Business Incubators (WASBI); Washington Wine Institute Award; Amigo Award, Tri-Cities Cinco de Mayo Committee; Washington Farm Bureau, 100% Voting Record; Farm Bureau's Legislator of the Year; NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award; Washington Farm Bureau, Exceptional Service to the Agricultural Community Award; Nominee, Small Business Administration's Small Businessman of the Year.

Civic Activities: Walla Walla Adult Day Care Advisory Committee; Elks; United Way; YMCA; State Penitentiary Citizen Advisory Council; Walla Walla Valley Medical Board of Directors, member 7 years, president 3 years; Walla Walla Rotary Club, member, past President (1995).

Personal: Mike owned and operated Hewitt Distributing for 23 years; Mike and his wife, Cory (manager of the county fairgrounds), have two grown sons. Enjoys fly fishing, golfing, flying airplanes and whitewater rafting.