Since joining Columbus City Council in 1999, Mike has been a leader on issues of safety and security facing the residents of Columbus. Mike has led the charge to ensure that our men and women in the Columbus Police and Fire Divisions have the best training, facilities and equipment available, so that they can continue to serve and protect the residents of Columbus with pride. Mike led the way for several new fire stations to be built throughout the city and for a $20 million state-of-the-art police training facility.  To make campus areas safer for students and the officers that patrol them a new policing center in the campus area is being constructed as well as the addition of 150 new street lights.   He has helped ensure that the growing city of Columbus meets the needs of its residents.

Mike feels that area commissions and civic associations have served an instrumental role in the growth of Columbus. Mike wants to continue to provide such organizations with the ability to get involved with City Council to keep their neighborhoods strong and successful. To show his commitment on this issue, Mike helped assemble a panel of these neighborhood organizations in May of 2007 with the intention of enabling these groups to increase their efficiency and effectiveness with city government.

A safe and healthy home for residents of Columbus is a priority, and Mike has been a strong advocate for programs that aim to prevent domestic violence and give assistance to domestic violence victims. Mike sponsored an amendment to the 2007 City budget to add $250,000 for the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence. This funding will help sustain civil legal services that are provided to victims of domestic violence by the Capital University Family Advocacy Clinic.