Email: foleymo@patch.com
Phone: 715-410-1933
Fax: 1-800-768-4167
Facebook: facebook.com/HudsonWIPatch
Twitter: twitter.com/HudsonWIPatch 
Hometown: New Richmond, WI
Birthday: Feb. 17
Bio: Since 1999, Micheal has served as an editor, writer, blogger, community manager and social media enthusiast at newspapers and public relations firms. He dabbles in photography, videography, user experience design and even some programming.

Micheal joined Patch.com in November 2010 and launched Hudson Patch on Dec. 15, 2010.

Micheal has always been a journalist at heart and has worked at several print publications including The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., the Leader-Telegram in Eau Claire, Wis., and the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn. He began his career as a military journalist while enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as a reporter and photographer in Okinawa, Japan, and editor of a base newspaper in San Diego, Calif.

Micheal is passionate about hyperlocal journalism and community storytelling. During the past few years, he has developed multimedia storytelling skills through the use of simple consumer electronics, guerrilla tactics, blogs and social media.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls where he also served as a veterans services representative and the editor of the Student Voice campus newspaper.

----

My Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics 
I am not registered with a party, but I am very politically charged. I describe myself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Others describe me as a libertarian, too liberal, or too conservative. It all depends on the issue at hand.

A few examples -- I'm against most government spending whether the Republicans or the Democrats are the ones controlling the budget. I strongly oppose most foreign wars (especially pre-emptive wars in which we are the aggressor). I am for equal rights for women, homosexuals and other minorities. I am for sound money, and I oppose inflation. I am strongly in favor of individual rights. I stongly oppose corporate personhood.

If you'd like to know where I stand on your pet issue, feel free to email me and we can discuss it.

Religion
I'm spiritual, but not religious. I believe in God, but I choose to celebrate the deity in my own ways.

Local Hot-Button Issues
City services vs. the tax levy is a hot-button issue in Hudson, as is school spending, the speed of new development and the proposed new bridge across the St. Croix River in nearby Stillwater.

I am always one for keeping taxes low and spending at humble levels. That said, I also am in favor of more charitable giving and partnerships with civic groups and foundations.

Hudson, along with the rest of St. Croix County, for years has been one of the fastest-growing parts of Wisconsin, and I say bring it on. New development is exciting and brings new opportunities to young people looking to set down long-term roots. While I am in favor of rapid development, I support the need to keep an eye toward preserving our historic downtown area and examining the environmental effects of our actions.

As of late, Hudson has been consumed by statewide governmental issues such as collective bargaining for state employees, voter ID and conceal carry legislation. The recall election for the District 10 state senator was a major coverage event for me for most of the summer.