Photo (c) 2005 Keweenaw Now. Reprinted with permission.

Raised in Hancock, Mike Lahti has deep roots in the Upper Peninsula and shares our values. Mike's mother was a school teacher and his father was a mechanic and heavy equipment salesman who also served as Mayor of Hancock.

After completing Hancock High School, Mike attended and graduated from Northern Michigan University. One year later, he opened State Farm Insurance Agency in Hancock. Mike is also a real-estate developer and small business owner.

In 1994, Mike was elected to the Hancock School Board, where he served for seven years. That same year he was elected to the Board of Trustees at Finlandia University, where he currently serves as Vice Chairman.

In 2000, he was elected to the Houghton County Board of Commissioners where he served as Chairman for six years.

In 2006, Mike was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. He represents the 110th House District, which is located in the Western Upper Peninsula. Mike is a member of the Appropriations Committee, where he is Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee. He also sits on the Human Services and Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittees of the Appropriation Committee.

Since coming to Lansing, Mike’s priorities have included creating good-paying jobs for Michigan workers, expanding educational opportunities for all residents and protecting the Great Lakes and Michigan’s natural resources.

Mike is married to Sharon, also of Hancock. They have six children and eight grandchildren.

Mike is a member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church located in Hancock.