Mike Kreidler
Encyclopedia
Myron Bradford "Mike" Kreidler (born 28 September 1943) is an American
politician
who currently serves as the Washington Insurance Commissioner. He is a Democrat.
Kreidler was a long-time legislator, serving 16 years in the Washington Legislature (Washington House of Representatives
1976–1984, then Washington State Senate
1984–1992) before being elected to the United States Congress
as a Representative
from the newly formed of Washington in 1992. He was defeated by Republican Randy Tate
in 1994. In 2000, Kreidler was elected Insurance Commissioner. He was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2008.
Kreidler is Washington's eighth insurance commissioner.
Since taking office in January 2001, he has cut rate increases on homeowners and auto insurance policies by $300 million. He regained national accreditation for the agency, which was lost under his predecessor. In 2004, he rejected a bid by one of the state's largest non-profit health insurers, Premera Blue Cross, to become a for-profit company. In 2010, the insurance commissioner's office recovered more than $9 million for consumers in Washington state.
In 2009, Kreidler worked with Washington state lawmakers to close a waiting-period loophole that threatened the lives of people waiting for organ transplants. Kreidler has also pushed for health care reform, both at the state and national levels.
Kreidler holds a bachelor of science degree from Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR and a doctor of optometry from the same institution's College of Optometry. After his US Army service as an optometry officer, he earned a master of public health degree in health administration from UCLA's School of Public Health.
He was employed as an optometrist by Group Health Cooperative of the Puget Sound in the Olympia clinic for twenty years with sixteen of them shared with the Washington State Legislature. Before being elected to the legislature, he was elected to the North Thurston School Board, Lacey, WA serving from 1973-1977. Following his re-election defeat to Congress in 1994, he was appointed to the Northwest Power Planning Council in 1995 by Washington Governor Mike Lowry and subsequently re-appointed by Governor Gary Locke. He served on the NWPPC until 1998 when he was then appointed the Region 10, US Department of Health and Human Services - Regional Director in Seattle. He resigned this position in 2000 to seek election to the office of Washington State Insurance Commissioner, an office he currently holds.
Kreidler resides in Lacey, WA with his wife, Lela, of 40 years. They have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren. Besides membership in several professional and fraternal organizations, Kreidler is a retired reserve US Army Lt. Colonel with active service during the Viet Nam and first Gulf wars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who currently serves as the Washington Insurance Commissioner. He is a Democrat.
Kreidler was a long-time legislator, serving 16 years in the Washington Legislature (Washington House of Representatives
Washington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
1976–1984, then Washington State Senate
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
1984–1992) before being elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
as a Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the newly formed of Washington in 1992. He was defeated by Republican Randy Tate
Randy Tate
Randy J. Tate is an American politician and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Washington....
in 1994. In 2000, Kreidler was elected Insurance Commissioner. He was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2008.
Kreidler is Washington's eighth insurance commissioner.
Since taking office in January 2001, he has cut rate increases on homeowners and auto insurance policies by $300 million. He regained national accreditation for the agency, which was lost under his predecessor. In 2004, he rejected a bid by one of the state's largest non-profit health insurers, Premera Blue Cross, to become a for-profit company. In 2010, the insurance commissioner's office recovered more than $9 million for consumers in Washington state.
In 2009, Kreidler worked with Washington state lawmakers to close a waiting-period loophole that threatened the lives of people waiting for organ transplants. Kreidler has also pushed for health care reform, both at the state and national levels.
Kreidler holds a bachelor of science degree from Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR and a doctor of optometry from the same institution's College of Optometry. After his US Army service as an optometry officer, he earned a master of public health degree in health administration from UCLA's School of Public Health.
He was employed as an optometrist by Group Health Cooperative of the Puget Sound in the Olympia clinic for twenty years with sixteen of them shared with the Washington State Legislature. Before being elected to the legislature, he was elected to the North Thurston School Board, Lacey, WA serving from 1973-1977. Following his re-election defeat to Congress in 1994, he was appointed to the Northwest Power Planning Council in 1995 by Washington Governor Mike Lowry and subsequently re-appointed by Governor Gary Locke. He served on the NWPPC until 1998 when he was then appointed the Region 10, US Department of Health and Human Services - Regional Director in Seattle. He resigned this position in 2000 to seek election to the office of Washington State Insurance Commissioner, an office he currently holds.
Kreidler resides in Lacey, WA with his wife, Lela, of 40 years. They have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren. Besides membership in several professional and fraternal organizations, Kreidler is a retired reserve US Army Lt. Colonel with active service during the Viet Nam and first Gulf wars.