Mike Davis was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but he has spent his career working as a public administrator in Los Angeles after completing graduate school here.
A former State Assemblymember, Davis comes to the Board of Public Works after representing the 48th District (South Los Angeles and Koreatown – Wilshire area) from 2006 to 2012. He served as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and also chaired the Select Committee on Rail Transportation. Davis authored legislation on topics including public utilities procurement for minority owned businesses, career technical education, community service and public service recognition. Among Davis' achievements is securing the Governor's signature on his bill AB 868 requiring the California Energy Commission to study whether patrons were getting all the gas they were purchasing.
Prior to assuming office, Davis served as a Senior Deputy Supervisor for Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, where he was responsible for South Los Angeles and served as liaison to Public Works. Previously, Davis was also District Director for Congresswoman Maxine Waters during her tenure in both the California State Assembly and US Congress.
A recipient of many awards over the years, Davis' recent honors include the Political Achievement Award from the New Frontier Democratic Club in 2012 and the Tom Bradley Award from the American Society of Public Administration in 2011.
Davis received his history degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Masters of Public Administration from Cal State Northridge, and a Masters of Arts in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Negotiations and Conflict Management from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Davis also completed Innovations in Governance Program and State and Local Government Program at Harvard and is the first elected official to obtain the Executive Master of Leadership Degree from USC's School of Policy, Planning and Development.