Biography
My wife Loyda and I have been married for 28 years and have lived in Leander for the past eleven years. We have two adult children, Joshua and Rachel who were taught in our home during their elementary school years. Rachel's first year in public school was 9th grade and Joshua's first year in public school was 7th grade. When they began public schools, they tested at a post-secondary level, indicating they were already prepared for college. After entering public schools and until they began taking advanced courses that were offered, they were attending classes that taught many of the same materials they had already learned in previous years. Both our kids graduated from Rouse High School and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. They both then went on to attend Dallas Theological Seminary where Rachel completed a one year certificate before working as a school teacher and Joshua obtained a Masters Degree. Loyda is originally from Mexico and Mike is originally from Florida. We usually speak Spanish at home and our kids speak Spanish fluently. Of course we are completely fluent in English as well!
Mike Sanders has served as an Elections Clerk and an Elections Judge in Williamson County, with a focus on helping to ensure fair and honest elections. Mike was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for his neighborhood HOA where he put a stop to initiating foreclosure proceedings against property owners who owed less than $500 to the HOA. His neighborhood HOA had initiated foreclosures against over 60 homeowners when each of them owed less than $500 in dues, and that abuse stopped when Mike was elected to the HOA Board of Directors. A more efficient collections program was instituted and delinquencies decreased when communications improved from the management company to homeowners. Both in his position as Pastor and later as HOA Board Director, Mike regularly guarded private information of his parishioners and his neighbors. He understands that leaders sometimes make difficult decisions based on knowledge that must be held confidential.
Mike served in the United States Marine Corps four years, in the 3rd Marine Air Wing where his performance enabled Mike to quickly rise through the ranks and to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant E-5 in under three years. He received an honorable discharge from active duty in 1979 after completing his four year contract and then served two additional years in the Marine Reserves. Mike then went on to study Electronics Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA and has worked as an Electronics Engineer for over 30 years, with a focus on designing video circuits. As an engineer, Mike currently designs Printed Circuit Boards and writes firmware for programmable circuits. He often writes and reviews legal contracts as part of his work. Mike enjoys research and data analysis.
Mike has been a delegate multiple years to the State Convention of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) where he voted to support conservative principles such as limited government, the right for citizens to keep and bear arms, defending parents choice for the education of their children, defending marriage between a man and a woman, defending the right for innocent babies to be protected from having their lives taken from them, defending children from being forcefully transitioned to “another gender”, and removing the "exception clause" from the Texas statute against adults providing obscenity to children. Mike was elected by his peers to be Republican Chair for Precinct 264 in Leander where he now serves.
Mike believes all people have an inalienable right to defend yourself and your property. He believes that the Constitution of the United States of America protects citizens from an overreaching government. Mike does not support governing people by means of endless “executive orders”. No business owner should be ordered to close the doors to his or her business, at the whims of some government official. No citizen should be forced to receive an injection of a substance that person believes is harmful to his or her health. Mike believes in using science as a guide for many decisions such as whether or not to wear a facemask, and science is clear that, wearing a facemask for several hours continuously, results in a concentration of carbon dioxide at the entrance of our respiratory system as well as a concentration of harmful bacteria on the skin around the mouth. The decision to wear a facemask or not to wear one, is a decision for each person to make. Mike believes that parents have the right to decide if they want their children to wear a facemask or not and hopes parents will give their children the freedom to decide this matter on their own.
Mike strongly supports law enforcement, believing that one of the primary functions of government is to protect the safety of our citizens. Mike does not believe it is a good idea for a school district to have its own police force that would report to a Superintendent who has no knowledge or experience in law enforcement. It is the responsibility of schools to keep children and staff safe and Mike is in favor of having armed police officers present to protect campuses in LISD. Mike would also be in favor of allowing staff members to carry a concealed weapon if proper training is provided prior, administrative staff are fully aware of who is carrying a concealed weapon, and all participants coordinate with local police departments. We need to have safe campuses and we need to take steps to protect students and staff from any armed intruder.
Through the years, Mike has served his community on several church boards and committees including Elder Boards, Finance Committees, Missions Committees and Evangelism Committees. Mike speaks Spanish and has served as a Pastor starting up and establishing several small Spanish-speaking churches. Mike served with Reveal Resource Center, helping each week for two years, to distribute food and clothing to families in need around the Cedar Park and Leander area. His Evangelical Christian faith guides Mike's decision making. Mike believes in helping those in need, but is opposed to the kind of policies that have resulted in attracting myriads of homeless people to the City of Austin.
Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain."