Mike lives in Linden, with his wife Diana, where his family has been farming since 1906. They have three children, Christopher (deceased), Erahm and Melissa. Mike has a degree from Stanford University and a degree in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis. After service in Vietnam, Mike returned to the family farm. Farming has always been a part of his life. Mike served in the California Legislature from 1994 until termed out in 2008, where he focused on water, banking, insurance and budget accountability. He is a past executive director of the Delta Protection Commission. Mike is now working to preserve his family’s farm and agricultural land for future generations and holds three easements with California Farmland Trust.