Mike Barnhart

Since joining Sunshine Review as President in 2009, Mike Barnhart spurred the organization’s growth and bringing it to the forefront of the national discussion about state and local government.

Mike spearheaded initiatives to create the national “Sunny Awards” highlighting transparent government websites, grow Sunshine Review’s public profile by dramatically increasing news coverage, and to embrace the latest in social media techniques by fostering new ideas such as a weekly Twitter event called “FOIAchat Friday.” Under Mike’s direction,Sunshine Review’s wiki website has grown to attract 1 million page views per month.

In 2010, Mike collaborated with Bob Williams to create and launch State Budget Solutions (SBS). SBS has emerged as a respected, authoritative national voice on state and municipal budget and pension issues. The New York Times, Huffington Post, Reuters, Reason, Forbes, Fox Business, Bloomberg, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Examiner,Washington Examiner and dozens of local and regional publications quote State Budget Solutions. The Society for Professional Journalists has repeatedly recognized the SBS website as among the best sources of information.

Previously, Mike served as a Managing Director with Public Strategies, a national public affairs firm; as a Communications Director for a Fortune 100 telecommunications firm; as a congressional Chief of Staff and as a congressional Campaign Manager and an aide in both the United States Senate and Michigan State Senate.

Mike graduated from American University in Washington DC and holds a PhD in political science from Wayne State University in his native Detroit.

A resident of Ocean City, Maryland, Mike lives with his wife, Patti, and a big red dog, Buddy. His daughter, Meghan, lives in Minneapolis and will be married in April.