DJC

Dan has been a resident of Whatcom County since he was seven and a Meridian High School graduate. He helped with the family businesses in high school, among other jobs. He went on to play football for Eastern WA University.

Dan served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1993-97, to include qualifying as "Expert" (highest shooting cert. available), operated re-fuelers and low boys, became a certified Motor Transport Instructor, and "Chaser" (bringing AWOL Marines back). During visits home, he assisted his parents in the family business of towing and recovery.

After his service, Dan worked as a long-haul truck driver and other trades. Eventually, he decided to purchase the family business from his parents in 2002.

Dan attended the Western College of Auctioneering to aid in his business which has grown to be one of the many ways he gives back to the community. He has served several organizations with his skills and resources to include The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Tour de Whatcom, Fun with the Fuzz, The Bellingham Police Association, Lydia Place, Meridian Booster Club, The American Legion, Blue Skies for Children, and The Arthritis Foundation, among others.

Dan has collaborated in education with local police, fire, and aid to create demonstrations like mock DUI crashes at local high schools.

In April of 2009, Dan read a local newspaper article about the lawsuit verdict against the WSP and Whatcom County, which essentially blamed law enforcement officers for the DUI crash of Hailey French. Hailey sustained critical injures in 2007. Dan felt he had a responsibility to set the record straight and get involved in a solution. He responded in kind with an opinion piece in that newspaper, stating that law enforcement can only enforce laws that exist.

Dan immediately went to work on drafting DUI legislation by contacting the then Representative, now Senator Doug Erickson. Dan helped Senator Erickson write a DUI bill requiring a mandatory Impound on all DUI's and a 12 -hour hold when the driver was the registered or legal owner. It took two years to pass, but it was successfully passed in 2011 and is now known as Hailey's Law.

Dan served The Towing & Recovery Assoc. of Washington for several years at the district level, was a legislative committee chair, served as State President from 2011 - 2012, and served until 2019 on their Executive Board.

In 2019 Dan sold his business and now hosts an online video cast talking about local issues and covering state and national issues as they relate to Whatcom County.