Michael Courtney
Lawrence City Commission
Empowered by GoodParty.org
About the Office
The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.
Term Length
4 years
Election Date
Nov 4, 2025
About Me
Party
Other
Occupation
Cloud Engineer
Fun Fact
My family is from the same town as the founders of Lawrence
Past Experience
My decades of tech leadership have taught me how to build consensus, manage budgets responsibly, and most importantly, to get things done. I also know how to identify and implement tech solutions to improve efficiencies and reduce costs, which our city could greatly benefit from.
I’m currently a Cloud Engineer at Cisco Systems, the largest networking company in the world. I have a 25-year career as a technology leader at Nvidia, a Silicon Valley executive, and a Dell and IBM employee. I also have years of state, local, and federal experience, and I built the public safety network of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, which is used by the region’s first responders. I have led and managed six, seven, and eight figure projects for 200 customers domestically and internationally.
My Top Issues
Implementing sound financial management practices to maintain balanced budgets
The city has overspent on their annual budgets and taken on hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. The city needs a long-term financial plan that smooths out these major expenditures and reduces the burden on taxpayers.
Investing in park maintenance and improvement
Do not implement rec center entrance fees. The administrative costs and minimal revenue generation do not justify undermining services that enhance our community’s quality of life and economic attractiveness.
Path to home ownership
I’m developing a practical, bi-partisan approach to this challenge: high-quality modular housing that doesn’t compromise on features or long-term value. These aren’t the prefab structures of decades past, but modern off-site constructed homes that can include full basements, attached garages, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.
Arts / Culture
We should NOT charge fees for our recreation centers and parks. Instead, we should encourage community leadership using the library’s successful model.
Housing
Infill is not enough to address our housing crisis. New precision-engineered homes can be built for a fraction of the cost.
Environment / Energy
We need to provide relief to Lawrencians who have seen their municipal utility payments skyrocket since the pandemic.
Who I'm Running Against
Bart Littlejohn (Democrat Party)
Incumbent City Commissioner
Bob Schumm (Democrat Party)
Past City Commissioner
Kristine Polian (Independent)
Forward thinking, municipal leader
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