Michael Luis is the founder and editor in chief of The Indexer. Mr. Luis has worked in politics and public policy for the past 35 years. He began his career staffing international trade and economic policy activities for the U.S. House of Representatives. He then spent 10 years managing policy work at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with particular focus on transportation, tax and budget and regional governance issues. He also managed the Chamber’s well-regarded Intercity Visit and Leadership Conference programs.
Since 1998, Mr. Luis has operated a public policy consulting practice, with a large share of his work in housing and land use policy, tax policy and state and regional economic development. He took two years off to serve as Executive Director of The Center for Wooden Boats, in Seattle.
Mr. Luis is the author of several local history books, including “Century 21 City: Seattle’s Fifty Year Journey from World’s Fair to World Stage.” This economic history describes Seattle’s emergence as a global center of technology. Mr. Luis has also written several community histories centered on East King County.
Mr. Luis is a third generation resident of the Seattle area, who traces his roots to the Gold Rush in Nome, Alaska. He served a term on the City Council in Medina, Washington, and spend two years as mayor, under the city’s council-manager form of government. He also holds a U.S. Coast Guard 50 Ton Master’s license.