Born in Manhattan, New York State. We migrated to New Jersey. My family’s ethnic background is both Greek and German/Irish. My Grandparents migrated from Kastoria, Greece, as business owners and spent over one year in Germany waiting to naturalize as American Citizens. Once arriving in the United States they settled in Rockaway, NY and while raising a family they moved to Manhattan. My grandfather was a garment designer and manufacturer of outerwear in both New York and New Jersey.
Mike’s father hailed from the Washington DC region, living in Washington DC, Baltimore and for a time in Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love. The family served in the Military, perused professional careers in the private sector and others in government positions. The family has a rich and proud history in government service, dating back to the revolutionary war. My first generation grandfather acted as a currier for then-General George Washington, a dangerous position of delivering plans by horseback to the to Washington’s officers at the front line while having to avoid armies of the King and General Charles Cornwallis leader of the British Armies.
Moving forward three generations served in a variety of government careers including District Immigration Director in Washington DC and then Regional East Coast Director reporting to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In addition, another rose to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for the State Of Maryland maintaining a liaison between Annapolis the capital and the Local and State Agencies. Joseph Koontz my uncle, was a war hero receiving the Silver Star and numerous awards. He served as Coronel under the direction of Commander of The Pacific Forces General Douglas MacArthur. He was a leader of the offensive in the Philippians to help in securing a surrender of Japan. Finally, my cousin was appointed a liaison representing the United Nations US the African Continent and managed a tour of Africa to President and Mrs Clinton for the purpose to review firsthand the culture and infrastructure of emerging nations.
After settling with my family in Haworth, New Jersey in 1967, where I graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School, Demarest. In 1971 I was called up to serve in our countries arm forces while our country was withdrawing from the Viet Nam Conflict / War. I was later denied active duty due to our policy of Withdrawal with Honor. I went on to Bergen Community and then received a BA in communications/business from Ramapo State College. During this period, I worked for nine years with Grand Union Co. helping to finance my college education. I went on to an internship with IBM and then worked for Time-Life accounts in NYC where I attended the School Of Visual Arts and received, advanced education in design and planning. Later I studied planning, interior design and was employed with a Design Firm specializing in plan layouts and cabinet installation. In 1987 I formed my own Co. Artcraft Interiors LLC as a design consultant, project manager and contractor. I presently live in Hackensack, NJ.
My political interest began in 1980 with Young Graduates for Reagan and later a County Coordinator for The Ross Petro Campaign in 1992. The Reform Party was then absorbed into the NJCP or New Jersey Conservative Party. This was my building ground for the political process in The State Senate Race in 1997, US Congress in 1998, Assembly in 1999, and Freeholder in 2000 and was proud to receive the party’s nomination for Governor in 2001, at a difficult time for our country after 911. The parties’ platform focused on individual freedoms, liberty, a smaller government, lower taxes, the right of the unborn and entrepreneurship. I was the lone independent candidate that debated James McGreevy and Bret Schundler in Tenafly, New Jersey. Although my margins of votes were modest the experience was priceless.
From 1999- 2004 I hosted and produced the Television Show No-Limits with my co-host George E. Soroka famed biofeedback specialist and healer. We hosted over 100 shows with many well-known celebrities, authors and guests. In 2012 I launched Screenwriting Interest and now write independently under Mike Koontz writer-screenwriter. I have certifications in Television Production
Other Community Projects:
Director National Food Week – Mahwah, NJ
Director Arts and Display – Mahwah, NJ
Coordinator of Bergen Food Pantry – Cresskill, NJ
Coats for seniors – Cresskill, NJ
Box for Youth – Hosted the ABF Regional Boxing Tournaments, 7 states 60 boxers, self-improvement for inner-city organization for young people.
We worked with many greats like former champion’s Joe Frazier, Mark Berland and Bobby Chez.
Animal Rescues – Demarest, NJ area. I am fond of all our animal friends.
Co-Coordinator of Bergen County NJ for Liberty
In addition, I am the founder of the Original Soul Revival, a 10 piece Memphis Soul Band since 1968 with recording’s and have played on stage with such greats as BB King, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, Ben E. King and many more. “Music is the language of the Universe” MK
My core belief is in God, Unity, The US Constitution and working hard to support our men and woman in blue who give their lives every day. I believe in a strong free enterprise system and expanding our opportunities in our business community while helping those less fortunate with well-budgeted government programs and input from community organizations. The state of New Jersey has a huge deficit of nearly 214 Billion and an “F” rated budget of 44 billion, the highest property taxes in the nation and highest immigration out of state. Taxing the hard-working citizens of New Jersey at every level is out of control leaving our debt at 58000.00 per individual in our state. This has been ongoing for over 25 years with no plan to challenge the waste. Our Governor has driven up this debt and acted in fiat on executive orders leaving our taxpayers to hold a bag of debt. At this point, something must change or the dam will break. I hope that if elected I can work with the communities of the 37th to improve our district, improve unity, and individual success. With Gods Help and support from our residents.
Favorite Quotes:
Thomas Jefferson:
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Martin Luther King:
“The time is always right to do what is right”
Abraham Lincoln:
“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who prevent the Constitution”
George Washington:
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light”