Profile in Leadership: Mike French - a local guy doing good things for us

Mike French

​In 2022, Mike French was elected County Commissioner for District 3 (the west end of the county, from Port Angeles west to the West End). He had previously served on the Port Angeles City Council, and owned a restaurant in P.A. As I walked into the coffee shop where we were to meet, he was having a spirited conversation with another customer. When he was done, he came over, gave me a cheerful hello, and we chatted over our cups of coffee.

1. Tell me a little about your past – where did you grow up, where have you lived?

“I was born in the hospital in Port Angeles,” Mike tells me. “My grandpa worked at Fort Worden, then moved to Port Angeles. My father, aunts, and uncles all live here.” Mike tells me how he did Running Start* at Peninsula College, then went to college in Ellensburg, where he studied music, playing the piano. He has a piano at home and still plays for himself. He continues. “In 2008, I bought a well-established restaurant – First Street Haven.” He explains how the previous owner helped train him, and after that it was a bit of a roller-coaster. “In 2010, the floor dropped out – we had a couple of tough years. Then in 2018 and 2019, the restaurant’s business was much better. After I was elected County Commissioner, I sold the restaurant to my employees.”   

Mike describes his entry into politics: “I was always interested in politics. I was not tuned in during the Bush era, but I was inspired by Obama.” He tells me he ran for City Council in 2017 largely because Trump got elected. He also had connections with the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. “If you’re complaining, but not doing anything, so what?”

He tells me he learned a lot on the City Council, and made a lot of connections. Then he successfully ran for County Commissioner. “It’s not really like the City. I had to really dive in. You think you know what you’re getting into, but there’s always a learning curve.” He talks about getting to know the small West End communities – each is different. “There are lots of different ways to be a County Commissioner. Some like to be out in the community. Others are more policy focused – that’s more what I am.”

2. What led you to seeing yourself as a Democrat? 

Mike takes a sip of coffee and thinks for a bit. “Human rights. Feminism – my wife was active. Gay rights. I wanted to be on the right side of history.” He notes that some people want to direct the Party, while some want to follow the Party. “It’s a Party of the working class. We need to follow the need for human rights. The focus should be that all people should be treated equally.” He comments that MAGA has been attracting working people with lies. I mention that some people have noted that MAGA supporters dislike people who appear elitist. “We need to start by asking questions.” He tells me he’s getting plain language training to help him communicate simply and clearly. 

3. What has been the highest point for you as a leader and a Democrat?

He responds quickly. “Leading the team for the Recompete Grant.** It was not a partisan effort, but it will support working people. We had a broad group of local leaders – non-partisan, but aligned on goals.” He tells me that “some people say our greatest export is our children” – our kids are leaving our community to find work elsewhere. This is an investment to change that dynamic. “We put in a year of work, culminating in the Zoom meeting where we learned we got the award. Thirty-five million dollars – large dollar amounts, but flexible.”

Mike discusses that large employment gap on the North Peninsula. “We are below the national average for employment. There are many challenges here. Transportation access is poor, with only a few roads for trucks to get here. Lack of housing. Lack of ‘trailing spouse’ jobs, although online employment has helped.” He talks about building on existing resources like our forests and marine waters. “We need to use our marine highway better. Peninsula College pivoted to a workplace development approach that links needed skills to jobs.” In addition, the County now has an employee who is focused on linking forest and marine jobs to training.

He describes a project that has some exciting potential. “Waste carbon fiber is difficult to dispose of. A nonprofit group in Neah Bay is recycling the carbon fiber into low value timber to create an ‘artificial hardwood.’ This can then be used for manufactured homes. It was originally a Department of Defense project, but it’s good for Tribal housing.” 

4. What leadership positions have you held in the past that prepared you for your elected position?

“I was a business owner,” he explains. “I learned to make decisions, handle budgets and financing, and listen, especially to employees.” He tells me he was a Board member for the Parent-Teacher Organization of his children’s school, and a Board member for the Olympia Community Clinic. “I learned how to work with people with different viewpoints. I created connections that are still useful – sources of expertise.” He also explains how his City Council experience helped. “You learn how to be responsive to the public. You have to weigh the stances you hold versus what the public says. You don’t want to wave in the wind, you have to have values, but you listen.”

5. What advice would you give to a volunteer thinking of taking on more responsibility in the Democrats and in the community?

“There are three things,” Mike replies. “Number one – everyone’s input has value. The Party is not a hierarchy, leadership is not about one great person. Bring everyone up, get them involved – they will be your next leaders. Number two – politics seems so big, so much chaos, but you can have a big impact at the local level. Number 3 – If someone isn’t sure what to do, they can show up at meetings, listen, talk to other volunteers and learn from them, and connect to other people.” 

6. How do we pass the legacy of the Democratic party to future generations?

Mark ponders this for a minute. “Help younger people get active, support them when they run,” he begins. “Be open to their ideas – they have other ideas of what’s important. You need to be open-minded and listen.” He concludes, “Find out where they are. You’ll probably find them at protests and marches.”

*Running Start is a Washington State dual-enrollment program allowing 11th and 12th-grade high school students to take college courses at community/technical colleges and some universities tuition-free.

**The Recompete Grant is part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) program designed to boost workforce participation and create family wage jobs in economically distressed communities. It focuses on areas with a high prime-age (25-54) employment gap by funding tailored, locally-driven economic development projects.