Max Vekich

{{Short description|American politician and labor leader}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Max Vekich | image = Max Vekich, FMC Commissioner.jpg | office = Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission | president = Joe Biden<br>Donald Trump | status = | term_start = February 15, 2022 | predecessor = Michael Khouri | birth_place = Aberdeen, Washington, U.S. | education = Grays Harbor College (AA)<br>University of Puget Sound (BA) | state_house1 = Washington | district1 = 35th | term_start1 = January 10, 1983 | term_end1 = January 14, 1991 | predecessor1 = Eugene V. Lux | successor1 = Tim Sheldon | spouse = {{marriage|Ivy Frost-Vekich||1995|end=died}}<br>{{marriage|Marcee Stone-Vekich|2012}} | children = 2, and 1 stepchild as well as 4 grandchildren | party = Democratic | birth_date = May 22, 1954 }}

'''Max Milan Vekich''' (born 1954)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legislative Manual 1985-1986|url=https://leg.wa.gov/LIC/Documents/Historical/Legislative%20Manuals/1985-1986%20Legislative%20Manual.pdf|publisher=Washington State Legislature}}</ref> is an American politician and labor leader who serves as a commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission. A member of the Democratic Party, Vekich previously served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-02|title=PN2642 - Nomination of L. E. Sola for Federal Maritime Commission, 115th Congress (2017-2018)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2642|access-date=2019-11-22|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Vekich was born and raised in Aberdeen, Washington. He earned an associate degree from Grays Harbor College on a football scholarship and served as student body president. Later, he graduated from University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history. During his time at the University of Puget Sound Vekich was a member of Beta Theta Pi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Pictorial Guide to the Fifty-First Washington State Legislature|url=https://leg.wa.gov/History/Legislative/Documents/Pictorial_Phone/51stSession1989-1990opt.pdf|website=leg.wa.gov}}</ref>

== Career == Vekich previously was a longshoreman and supercargo. He was also employed by the Pacific Maritime Association. He was elected at 28 years old and served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991 as a Democrat. During his time in the Washington House of Representatives, Vekich served as the Chair of the House Commerce & Labor Committee from 1989-1990,<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Manual 1989-1990 (PDF). Washington State Legislature |url=https://leg.wa.gov/media/t0yjy5fv/1989-1990-legislative-manual.pdf}}</ref> Chair of the House Trade & Economic Development Committee from 1987 – 1988,<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Manual 1987-1988 (PDF). Washington State Legislature |url=https://archive.org/details/walaw-manual-1987}}</ref> and Chair of the House Agriculture Committee from 1985 - 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Manual 1985-1986 (PDF). Washington State Legislature |url=https://archive.org/details/walaw-manual-1985/mode/2up}}</ref>

In 2009, Vekich was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat on the Seattle Port Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seattle Port Commission Position 4: PubliCola Picks Max Vekich|url=https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2009/10/seattle-port-commission-position-4-max-vekich|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Seattle Met|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Young|first=Bob|date=2009-08-13|title=Incumbent casts shadow over primary in Port of Seattle Commission race|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/incumbent-casts-shadow-over-primary-in-port-of-seattle-commission-race/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Federal Maritime Commission=== On June 23, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Vekich to serve as a commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces 17 Key Nominations |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/23/president-biden-announces-17-key-nominations/ |website=The White House |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-11|title=Senate appoints former Congressman and union man Max Vekich to the FMC|url=https://theloadstar.com/senate-appoints-former-congressman-and-union-man-max-vekich-to-the-fmc/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=The Loadstar}}</ref> Hearings were held before the Senate Commerce Committee on October 20, 2021. The committee favorably reported the nomination to the Senate floor on November 17, 2021. Vekich's nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=PN748 — Max Vekich — Federal Maritime Commission 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/748?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22vekich%22%2C%22vekich%22%5D%7D&s=2&r=1 |website=US Congress |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref>

President Biden resent his nomination the following day. The committee favorably reported the nomination on February 2, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=PN1537 — Max Vekich — Federal Maritime Commission 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1537?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22vekich%22%2C%22vekich%22%5D%7D&s=2&r=2 |website=US Congress |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> Vekich was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Max Vekich, of Washington, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00053.htm |website=US Senate |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref>

Vekich was sworn into office on February 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Max Vekich Sworn In as FMC Commissioner |url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/max-vekich-sworn-fmc-commissioner-494338 |website=MarineLink |access-date=18 February 2022 |language=en |date=15 February 2022}}</ref>

== Personal life == Vekich lives in West Seattle with his wife, Marcee Stone-Vekich. He has two adult children with his late wife and one stepdaughter from his current wife.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Max Vekich & Marcee Stone wed at Alki Arts Gallery {{!}} Westside Seattle|url=https://www.westsideseattle.com/west-seattle-herald/2012/09/30/max-vekich-marcee-stone-wed-alki-arts-gallery|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=www.westsideseattle.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 5, 2017|title=One of Seattle's Highest Crime Areas Has Transformed Into a Thriving, Diverse Community|url=https://www.seattlemag.com/news-and-features/once-one-seattles-highest-crime-areas-high-point-has-transformed-thriving-diverse|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=Seattle Magazine|language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vekich, Max}} Category:Living people Category:Biden administration personnel Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Category:Federal Maritime Commission members Category:Grays Harbor College alumni Category:University of Puget Sound alumni Category:20th-century members of the Washington State Legislature Category:Politicians from Aberdeen, Washington Category:1954 births