Mike Winder was born for public life. In 2005 he upset a popular incumbent on the West Valley City Council and will soon begin his third year of service in Utah's 2nd largest city. He was recently appointed to the ULCT board of directors for a two-year term. In his un-public life, Mike is a member of the management team at the well known dairy that shares his family name. His hobbies include writing and editing books and he's got quite a list of them already. Mike has one wife and 3.87 kids.

1. First, how long have you been serving as an elected official in your community and is this your first stab at city govt? I was elected in 2005, but spent four years as the city's business development manager. I also initiated the Taylorsville incorporation effort as a radical high school senior.

2. What made you want to run for public office? I wanted to join the good fight of improving Utah's 2nd largest city.

3. Name one thing (and no doubt there are many) about being about being a municipal official in your community that is really satisfying, and one thing that that is, shall we say, not the least bit enjoyable. Enjoyable: Meeting the great people of WVC, and those M & Ms we get in our council study sessions. Not Enjoyable: Having to check one more email box, one more cell phone, and one more voice mail box.

4. Where you're not acting in your capacity as a municipal official, how do you spend your spare time (profession, or similar)? Playing the role of Utah's milkman at Winder Farms and writing history.

5. What is the greatest challenge facing your community? Revitalizing neighborhoods, creating a city center and revamping the Valley Fair Mall.

6. CD in your player? Sarah McLachlan

7. Book on your nightstand? 1776- I got it from some great conference recently.

8. Radio station set on your dial? MY 99.5


9. Political idol? Lincoln (Shurtz that is)

10. Presidential candidate in '08? No, the Constitution says I have to be 35 first.