Kerrigan graduated from Waterloo High School (Ohio) and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a public policy focus from The George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia He also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
He is seeking his first term in the position. Following his graduation, Kerrigan worked for three years in The Ohio State University"s Washington, District of Columbia, Office of Federal Relations. He later returned to Capitol Hill as a congressional staffer for then-Congresswoman Betty Sutton, serving first in her Washington, District of Columbia, and then Akron, Ohio office.
Kerrigan"s campaign slogan is "Moving Portage County Forward." His four main priorities are:
Promoting Economic Development While Retaining Our Rural Charm
Collaborating for Shared Services and Cost Savings
Expanding Treatment Options to Address the Growing Drug Crisis
Supporting Our Students while Building an Advanced Economy.
Though his first foray into public service was during high school when he was a volunteer member of the Randolph Fire Department, while attending college Mike received his first political and public policy experiences through internships in then-Congressman Ted Strickland"s Capitol Hill office and with then-Virginia Governor Mark Warner"s Political Action Committee. He is a founding board member of Biology-Medical Science Academy Science Technology Engineering And Mathematics School, the first rural Science Technology Engineering And Mathematics school in Ohio and the first Science Technology Engineering And Mathematics high school on a medical university campus in the nation. He currently serves as a member of the board of Celebrate Portage, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, Portage County Regional Planning Commission, and the United Way of Portage County.
Mike is a member of the Kent Environmental Council, League of Women Voters of Kent, Portage County Agricultural Society, Portage County Farm Bureau, Portage County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Rotary Club of Kent, associate member of the Portage County and Ohio Township Associations, and a life member of the Rootstown Historical Society.
He is a former member of the board of the Portage County Workforce Development Committee and Rootstown Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Portage County Class of 2013.
