# Max Vekich

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{{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](/source/Federal_Maritime_Commission)
| president    = [Joe Biden](/source/Joe_Biden)<br>[Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump)
| status       =
| term_start   = February 15, 2022
| predecessor  = [Michael Khouri](/source/Michael_Khouri)
| birth_place  = [Aberdeen, Washington](/source/Aberdeen%2C_Washington), U.S.
| education    = [Grays Harbor College](/source/Grays_Harbor_College) ([AA](/source/Associate_degree))<br>[University of Puget Sound](/source/University_of_Puget_Sound) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
| state_house1 = Washington
| district1    = [35th](/source/Washington's_35th_legislative_district)
| term_start1  = January 10, 1983
| term_end1    = January 14, 1991
| predecessor1 = [Eugene V. Lux](/source/Eugene_V._Lux)
| successor1   = [Tim Sheldon](/source/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](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| 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](/source/Washington_State_Legislature)}}</ref> is an American politician and labor leader who serves as a commissioner of the [Federal Maritime Commission](/source/Federal_Maritime_Commission). A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), Vekich previously served as a member of the [Washington House of Representatives](/source/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](/source/Aberdeen%2C_Washington). He earned an associate degree from [Grays Harbor College](/source/Grays_Harbor_College) on a football scholarship and served as student body president. Later, he graduated from [University of Puget Sound](/source/University_of_Puget_Sound) with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history. During his time at the [University of Puget Sound](/source/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](/source/Pacific_Maritime_Association). He was elected at 28 years old and served as a member of the [Washington House of Representatives](/source/Washington_House_of_Representatives) from 1983 to 1991 as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)). 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](/source/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](/source/Joe_Biden) nominated Vekich to serve as a commissioner of the [Federal Maritime Commission](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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}}

{{Federal Maritime Commission commissioners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Max Vekich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Vekich) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Vekich?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.