At the age of 15, Mike began working for a small family-owned business in Silvis where he developed a strong work ethic and learned the true value of a dollar. Mike's father, a UAW worker at John Deere, and his mother, a bookkeeper at a local auto shop, taught him to work hard for his family and his community.

After graduating from United Township High School in East Moline, Mike attended Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University where he studied government and law enforcement.

Following college, Mike served for eight years as an aide to retired Congressman Lane Evans and then worked as a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Rep. Smiddy's legislative priorities will focus on economic development initiatives that will attract businesses to the state and keep jobs in Illinois, demand greater fiscal responsibility of taxpayer dollars, and protect the rights of lawful gun owners. As a father, and husband of a public school teacher, Mike has a strong understanding of the issues facing our schools and he will work to make sure the concerns of local parents and teachers are heard in Springfield.

Mike and his wife, Deb, a teacher in the East Moline Public School District #37, are raising their two sons on their family farm in Hillsdale.