About Me

Mark
My family moved to Port Angeles in the early 1990s. My father, a Marine Corps veteran and copy machine repairman, was drawn to the natural beauty and lifestyle of the Olympic Peninsula. My parents moved from the Seattle area to enjoy a slower pace of life and raise their family in a small-town setting. One of my first memories after moving to Port Angeles was when my dad brought his fishing pole to work. During his lunch breaks or on his way home he never missed a chance to cast a line into the Dungeness, Elwha, Sol Duc, or Bogachiel. My mother, also a Marine Corps veteran, had one of the most important jobs in the world: being a mother to her two boys and daughter. My mom was also a community volunteer. Some of my fondest childhood memories are going with her to coach softball at Lincoln Park or basketball at Stevens Middle School.

I attended Roosevelt Middle School (go Teddies!), and Port Angeles High School (go ‘Riders!). Our family grew up in apartments, duplexes, and trailers before my parents qualified to buy their first home. That was only made possible through a low-income, first-time homebuyers’ program that built developments on the westside of Port Angeles. It’s difficult to describe the joy and relief our family felt when moving in. We visited the site often while it was under construction and were excited to take pictures to document its progress.  Often, the simple pleasures like hanging fixtures, painting bedrooms or planting a garden are overlooked. This having been our first home, our first yard, the experience was not lost on us.

I joined the Navy in 1998 and served on the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, stationed in Bremerton. When we weren’t deployed, I made the short drive home to Port Angeles to enjoy my weekends. After my first deployment, in support of Operation Desert Fox, I applied for specialized training as a Special Warfare Combat Crewman (SWCC) operator. The selection course was difficult and rewarding. After graduating from the training, my unit deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later, to the Horn of Africa in support of the Global War on Terrorism. I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve my country and for the bonds I formed with my fellow service members.

After my last deployment, I returned home to focus on my family and start a career as a law enforcement officer. Although my military enlistment ended, my mission to serve continued. For the past 20 years I’ve answered that call to duty as a law enforcement officer. And much like my time in the Navy, it has been a privilege to work with dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to ensure public safety, uphold individual rights, and partner with their community to solve problems.

My service to our community in a professional capacity is important, but I wanted to continue to serve out of uniform. I saw the myriad of issues our city faces, some of those found throughout our nation, while others were unique to our community. To help solve those challenges, I served on Clallam County’s Homelessness Taskforce for 2 years and the City of Port Angeles’ Parks and Recreation Commission for 4 years. I currently serve on the boards for the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center and Habitat for Humanity.

Those boards and commissions deal with issues our community faces every day, like the safety and use of our public spaces, how to help our unhoused neighbors, community conflict resolution, and how to increase affordable housing opportunities. Just last year, I was elected to serve on the Clallam County Charter Review Commission, a 15-member commission that periodically identifies potential revisions to our County Charter to ensure it is responsive to our community’s needs.

I love our community, and in my spare time, I enjoy getting outdoors and taking advantage of the Peninsula’s natural beauty by hiking and biking our trails. I also enjoy spending time with my daughter, son and grandchild. My daughter, a soon-to-be high school student, is my stalwart hiking partner and also loves the unique outdoor recreation opportunities our community has to offer. My son recently returned to Port Angeles with his family after 7 years in the Air Force, where he now faces the same job and housing challenges that many of our young Port Angeles families share.

I am excited to bring my whole-of-life experience and commitment to servant leadership to our city and being your advocate on City Council!