Get to Know Patrick

I grew up in Portage, Wisconsin, the youngest of five children raised by a single mother on a waitress’ pay. My mother emigrated to the U.S. from Japan and valued the tenets of the American dream. While she didn’t fully realize the American Dream, she instilled in her children a belief that study and hard work would lead to a brighter future.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, advocacy and services that helped me reach that brighter future, but I am saddened and angry when I see that not all Dane County citizens are afforded these same opportunities today, all too often because of where they are born or the color of their skin. It is my strong belief in fairness, equity, and opportunity for all that inspires me to be in public service.

My childhood home in Portage was just a block from the Wisconsin River. Going over the levee was my escape to nature’s playground where I swam, fished, and observed nature along the wooded shores. It’s those warm memories that drive me to ensure we protect our environment and create opportunities for all to enjoy our parks and lakes for generations to come.

Professionally, I am an Information Systems Specialist for Wisconsin’s Department of Administration, developing financial management systems. Previously, I was the owner/principal of a consulting business providing business systems analysis services for over 20 years. My professional career has focused primarily on the development and maintenance of billion-dollar public finance systems.

As a Wisconsin State employee, I am a proud member of Wisconsin Professional Employees Council (WPEC), Local 4848, AFT-Wisconsin.

I volunteer my time with the Design Coalition Institute (DCI), a nonprofit that promotes sustainable community development, affordable green housing, and environmental justice. I also serve as Treasurer of the Madison-Obihiro (Japan) Sister City Board.

I live in McFarland with my wife, Marykay, and son, Benjamin. I enjoy reading, playing soccer, woodworking, canoeing, and fishing. I love cheering on the Packers, the Badgers, and my son’s swim team.