Born in Jena, the seat of La Salle Parish in north Louisiana, Mike grew up there and attended Jena public schools. Mike played as a Jena Giant on the local high school football team. Mike went on to work in the oilfield as a roughneck and later became a mud engineer. He went on to start his own business. Francis became successful in the oil drilling fluid business from his base in south Louisiana. His company was based in Crowley, the seat of Acadia Parish, a rice-growing region in southwestern Louisiana. 

 

Francis is the past founder and chief executive officer of Francis Drilling Fluids, Ltd. FDF, one of the oldest drilling fluids companies on the Gulf Coast. He employed nearly 500 people at locations in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming and throughout the country. The corporate headquarters is still located in Crowley.

 

A staunch fiscal and social conservative, Mike became chairman of the Republican Party in Louisiana from 1994 to 2000. Mike was elected to the Public Service Commission in November of 2016 and still serves in this capacity today. Mike brings his successful business experience and expertise to serve his constituents as Public Service Commissioner of District 4 - a seventeen parish area.

 

Mike is married to Sheila Stevens Francis and is the father of two sons Bryan and Mackey, and is blessed with many grandkids.