Mike Craven

Mike was born one of eight children to Staff Sergeant William A. Craven, a WWII veteran and Clara A. Imus Craven. Mike was born in Louisville, Kentucky at the Old Norton Children's Hospital on August 25th, 1957. Mike grew up in Jeffersontown.

Mike is a cradle Catholic who practices his religion faithfully. He went to St. Edward Catholic Grade School. After discovering that Mike had a learning problem his parents moved him to J-Town Elementary so he could get better support and counseling. Through testing they found out that he had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Mike overcame this learning disorder with love, patience and good tutoring.

After attending J-Town High School Mike went to help his uncle with the family business (Cravens Welding Company), which his grandfather started after WWI. When Mike found out that he did not have an interest in welding he decided to further his education by attending Jefferson State Vocational School where he studied Auto Mechanics and graduated with a certificate in Oct. 1977. Upon his graduation Ford Motor Company hired him and Mike finally knew that he had found his life's career.

During the great auto industry recession of 1979 Mike was laid off from Ford. Not knowing if he would be hired back at Ford, Mike went back to Jefferson State Vocational School where he graduated with a diploma in Diesel Mechanics in the fall of 1981. Mike worked various jobs until he was hired back at Ford in February of 1982.

Mike and his wife Patti were married on May 28, 1988 after knowing each other for 10 years.

Mike's political career got started when he ran for Union Representative in May of 1987. Mike was elected as a Union Representative in January, 1993 and was re-elected in May of 1993. Mike had to step down as Union Representative to put his family first.

Mike had to take care of his father who had a mild heart attack and his sister Carol who was suffering from Lupus. His sister Carol passed away on her 39th birthday on January, 1995. This changed Mike's whole life as he had to adopt his sister's daughter, which was also his Goddaughter. Mike and Patti moved to New Albany, Indiana for 2 years so their adopted daughter could fulfill her desire to graduate with her friends from New Albany High School.

After moving back to Louisville in 1997 Mike was once again elected as a Union Representative in 1999 and was re-elected in 2002. As a UAW Union Representative Mike learned to respect, serve and work with people of all ages, beliefs, ethnicities, disabilities and political views. Mike has always represented his union brothers and sisters with the utmost dignity and respect they deserve.

Education, Experience & Community Involvement:

During his time as a Union Representative Mike took many different courses that his union offered including:

Discipline and discharge
Grievance writing and handling
Collective bargaining
Civil Rights and Labor Law
Psychology for Union Labor Leaders

Mike feels that he is qualified to fulfill the duties of a Congressperson. Mike also had much experience in helping out on political campaigns for the past 30 years.

For the last 10 years Mike has been active in many community organizations volunteering his time and talents as a way to give back to God for all the blessings he has received from his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Some of these organizations include:

United Crescent Hill Food Pantry
Golden Arrow Women's and Children's Center
Schuhmann Center, which helps homeless people
St. Vincent DePaul Open Hands Kitchen
Wayside Christian Mission
Sister Visitor
Water with Blessings
Habitat For Humanity

Mike is also active in the following organizations:

Member of UAW chaplaincy committee for 18 years
Knights of Columbus for 16 years - Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Organization that takes care of the poor and needy
MAN UP- Which is founded on the MAN UP Five Principles to change the social behavior of men

For fun Mike and Pattie enjoy walking in parks, swimming, dancing, putt putt golf, boating and riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle.

Mike Craven is running to represent you in Congress because he has a deep love for our country and compassion for working men and women who are paying too much in taxes and feel that the career politicians in Washington, DC who have forgotten about the middle class tax-paying Americans!

Mike has a great love and compassion for our country. He cares about the moral values in which our country was founded and the direction in which it is being led. Mike believes in the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death. He believes he can help lead our country in the right direction with the help of his God and Creator.

Because of this realization that our country was beginning to deviate from its moral perspective, particularly in the direction that the Democratic party was taking, Mike became a member of the Republican Party. Mike identifies the Republican Party values as his values.

Please vote for Mike Craven in the Republican Primary for US Congress-3rd District on Tuesday, June 23.

GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND AMERICA!