Mike Pieciak
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mike Pieciak
|image = Mike Pieciak on All Things LGBTQ (cropped).jpg
|office = 31st Treasurer of Vermont
|governor = Phil Scott
|term_start = January 5, 2023
|term_end =
|predecessor = Beth Pearce
|successor =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|21}}
|birth_place = Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|partner = Will Holder
|education = Union College (BA)
University of Miami (JD)
|signature=Mike Pieceak Signature.png
}}
Michael S. Pieciak (pronounced p-check) (born June 21, 1983) is an American politician from Vermont. A member of the Democratic Party, Pieciak has served as Vermont State Treasurer since January 2023.
Early life and career
Michael Sullivan Pieciak was born in Brattleboro, Vermont on June 21, 1983, a son of Joseph S. and Carolyn (Sullivan) Pieciak.{{cite news |date=June 25, 1983 |title=Birth Announcement, Michael Sullivan Pieciak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119022274/pieciak/ |work=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last=Weiss-Tisman |first=Howard |date=May 27, 2008 |title=Local man tapped delegate for Clinton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119020369/delegate/ |work=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} He attended the schools of Brattleboro and is a 2002 graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts.{{cite news |date=April 13, 2002 |title=Northfield Mount Hermon winter honor roll announced |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119019846/northfield/ |work=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} He graduated from Union College in 2006, where he played on the football team.{{cite web|last=Wallace |first=Anne |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/vermonts-pandemic-modeler-is-returning-to-his-financial-regulation-duties/|title=Vermont's Pandemic Modeler Is Returning to His Financial Regulation Duties | Education | Seven Days | Vermont's Independent Voice |publisher=Sevendaysvt.com |date= |accessdate=November 10, 2022}} Pieciak was a volunteer staffer at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and was a Hillary Clinton delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
In 2009, Pieciak earned his Juris Doctor degree summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law.{{cite web|url=https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2012/05/mike-pieciak-is-campaign-manager-for-vermont-attorney-general.html |title=Mike Pieciak Is Campaign Manager For Vermont Attorney General | Law News | University of Miami |publisher=News.miami.edu |date=May 29, 2012 |accessdate=November 10, 2022}} While in law school, he was the 2008–2009 editor-in-chief of the Miami Law Review and a member of the Miami Moot Court Board.{{cite news |date=June 6, 2009 |title=College News: University of Miami School of Law |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119075601/miami/ |work=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com}} In addition, he interned at the school's Children and Youth Law Clinic. Pieciak was also inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society and joined the Phi Delta Phi honor society.
Pieciak was admitted to the bar in 2011 and became an associate at the Downs Rachlin and Martin law firm in Burlington.{{cite news |date=May 23, 2011 |title=There were 27 new attorneys admitted to the Vermont Bar on May 17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119023508/attorneys/ |work=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=August 1, 2011 |title=Careers: James Haug Jr., Carol Ode, Michael Pieciak, Kane Smart |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119023145/careers/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland VT |page=C2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 2012, he managed the reelection campaign of William Sorrell, the Vermont Attorney General. He subsequently practiced mergers and acquisitions law with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York City.{{cite news |date=February 4, 2014 |title=Vermonter returns to join state panel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119024190/panel/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland, VT |page=B5 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In February 2014, Pieciak joined the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation when Governor Peter Shumlin appointed him as deputy commissioner of the securities division. Shumlin appointed him as commissioner in July 2016 and Governor Phil Scott reappointed him in January 2017.{{cite news |date=July 10, 2016 |title=Pieciak is named new DFR Commissioner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119024917/commissioner/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland, VT |page=A5 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=January 8, 2017 |title=Introducing Phil Scott's leadership team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119025575/commissioner/ |work=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=A7 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 2020, Scott appointed Pieciak to his COVID response leadership team.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 4, 2020 |title=State: Peak due by May |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119025991/peak/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland, VT |page=A3 |via=Newspapers.com}} Pieciak resigned as DFR commissioner in April 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/04/27/mike-pieciak-financial-regulation-chief-and-key-figure-in-vermonts-covid-response-to-resign/|title=Mike Pieciak, financial regulation chief and key figure in Vermont's Covid response, to resign|first=Ethan|last=Weinstein|date=April 27, 2022|website=VTDigger}}
Vermont State Treasurer
In May 2022, incumbent state treasurer Beth Pearce announced that she would not run for reelection.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/05/06/mike-pieciak-former-financial-regulation-commissioner-is-running-for-state-treasurer/|title=Mike Pieciak, former financial regulation commissioner, is running for Vermont state treasurer|first=Lola|last=Duffort|date=May 6, 2022|website=VTDigger}} A few days later, Pieciak announced that he would be a candidate in the 2022 Vermont elections. After winning the Democratic nomination, he faced Republican H. Brooke Paige in the general election.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/11/08/mike-pieciak-elected-vermonts-next-treasurer/|title=Mike Pieciak elected Vermont's next treasurer|first=Lola|last=Duffort|date=November 8, 2022|website=VTDigger}} Pieciak defeated Paige, 62% to 33%. He took office in January 2023.{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Pat |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Vermont Gov. Phil Scott delivers inaugural address as fourth term begins |url=https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-01-05/vermont-governor-sworn-in-to-fourth-term-and-delivers-inaugural-address |work=WAMC Radio |location=Albany, NY}} Pieciak won a second two-year term in November 2024.https://www.wcax.com/2024/11/06/pieciak-tallies-another-win-treasurer/
Personal life
Pieciak and his partner, Will Holder, live in Winooski.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/|title=Seven Days | Vermont's Independent Voice|website=Seven Days}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- [https://www.vermonttreasurer.gov/ Government website]
- [https://www.mikeforvermont.com/ Campaign website]
- {{C-SPAN|125713}}
{{CongLinks|votesmart=173878}}
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{{s-bef|before=Beth Pearce}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Vermont State Treasurer|years=2022, 2024}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
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{{s-bef|before=Beth Pearce}}
{{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Vermont|years=2023–present}}
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{{Current Vermont statewide political officials}}
{{U.S. State Treasurers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pieciak, Mike}}
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:American gay politicians
Category:LGBTQ people from Vermont
Category:Northfield Mount Hermon School alumni
Category:Politicians from Brattleboro, Vermont
Category:State treasurers of Vermont
Category:Union College (New York) alumni