US Congressional Candidate
Mike Van Someren
From the age of five, I was a man with a plan. I was going to be an over-the-road truck driver, just like my dad. I enjoyed school, but I never saw college as necessary for my intended career path. While biding time before I could get on the open road, an elementary school teacher saw me walking the halls—a solid foot above the other students—and made it his mission to get me involved in basketball and football.
This introduction to basketball and football was hugely formative, because sports not only taught me discipline and work ethic, but led me to understand that college was a possibility. In my small town of Somerset, Wisconsin (population 2,500), I started to make a name for myself as a three-sport athlete and All-State Football player, in addition to being a National Honor Society member. I even got to play in the WIAA 2003 Shrine Game.
Sports opened doors for me and helped pave a way to UW-Madison where I made the traveling squad, and then had the distinction of being the third, second, and first-string left tackle for the Badgers when I filled in for an injured Joe Thomas. I went on to play my final collegiate season at UW-River Falls.
I was the first in my immediate family to graduate from college, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in History. After my time in Madison, my sights had shifted from trucking to law. When I started at Marquette Law School, my approach was similar to my approach to football; I was there to out-work everyone else. I was the guy waiting for the law library to open each morning and was there until it closed each night. I held a leadership role on the Marquette Law Review and graduated cum laude.
The week I was sworn in as an attorney was also the week I married my better half, Renee. Both of us were fresh out of school and eager to work. I started my law career in Waukesha, assisting business owners, real estate developers, and nonprofit organizations with a variety of real estate and business needs. I then joined the law firm of Davis|Kuelthau as an associate attorney, where I eventually became a shareholder (partner). There, I am a member of the real estate, commercial finance and corporate practice groups as well as Chair of the capital markets & securities team. As far as legal accolades, I was named “Up and Coming Lawyer” by the Wisconsin Law Journal in 2019 and a Rising Star by Wisconsin Super Lawyers magazine in 2020, and I’m on the Best Lawyers in America list for this coming year. I am always seeking to lead within my firm by mentoring associates as well as chairing the recruiting committee.
In addition to my work at the firm, I am active within several very meaningful nonprofit organizations. I currently serve on the board for two great organizations, Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County and the Veterans Community Foundation. I also spent many years as a board member of ArtWorks for Milwaukee. I am also an elder at my church, Wauwatosa Presbyterian, where I have chaired the Finance Committee for nearly six years. Under my financial guidance, the church was able to secure a sizable loan and launch a capital campaign to help raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars necessary for building repairs.
I am also active within industry organizations. I have been a member of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, NAIOP-WI, since 2009 and was twice named a “DL All-Star” after completing the organization’s development and leadership mentoring program.
My biggest blessings are my two daughters, and it is a huge honor to be their dad. Renee and I are thankful for them every day. We live in the Town of Delafield with our chocolate lab, Buckley.
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