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{{short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Michael Dvorak
| image name=
| office = [[St. Joseph County, Indiana|St. Joseph County]] Prosecutor
| term_start= January 2003
| term_end= January 2015
| preceded= Chris Toth
| succeeded= Ken Cotter
| state_house1=Indiana
| state1=Indiana
| district1=8th
| term_start1= November 1986
| term_end1= November 6, 2002
| preceded1= [[Lloyd Taylor]]
| succeeded1=[[Ryan Dvorak]]
| party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| birth_date= {{birth date and age|1948|10|24}}
| birth_place=
| death_date=
| death_place=
| alma_mater= [[Loyola University Chicago]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Western State College of Law]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| profession= [[Lawyer]]
| spouse= Kathleen
| children = 8 (including [[Ryan Dvorak|Ryan]])
| residence= [[Granger, Indiana|Granger]], [[Indiana]]
}}

'''Michael A. Dvorak'''<ref name="votesmart">{{cite web |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/4649/michael-dvorak |website=Vote Smart |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> (born October 24, 1948) is an American lawyer and politician who formerly served as an [[Indiana State Representative]] and the [[St. Joseph County, Indiana]] prosecutor.

==Early life==
Dvorak was born October 24, 1948 in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], [[Indiana]].<ref name="votesmart"/>

Dvorak earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Loyola University Chicago]] in 1970.<ref name="votesmart"/> He earned a [[Juris Doctor]] from [[Western State College of Law]] in 1975.<ref name="votesmart"/> He was admitted to the [[State Bar of California]] in 1975 and the [[Indiana State Bar Association]] in 1977.<ref name="votesmart"/>

==Career==
Dvorak served as a deputy [[prosecutor]] in [[Modesto, California|Modesto]], [[California]] from 1975 through 1977.<ref name="votesmart"/><ref name="viefortitle">{{cite web |last1=Gallegos |first1=Alicia |title=Prosecutor candidates vie for title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/512167026 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=31 Oct 2010}}</ref> He worked in private legal practice from 1977 through 2002.<ref name="viefortitle"/> He also worked as a [[public defender]] in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], [[Indiana]] from 1977 through 1986.<ref name="votesmart"/><ref name="viefortitle"/>

In 1984, Dvorak ran for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nomination for the 8th district seat in the [[Indiana House of Representatives]], but lost a four-way [[primary election]].<ref name="candidates1986"/>

===State representative===
In 1986, Dvorak ran again for the 8th district seat in the Indiana House of Representatives, this time succeeding in securing the Democratic Nomination. Dvorak defeated three-term [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] incumbent [[Lloyd Taylor]] in the general election.<ref name="candidates1986">{{cite web |title=Candidates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/518403101 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=30 Apr 1986}}</ref> His victory was considered an [[Upset (competition)|upset]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wensits |first1=James |title=Dvorak seeks upset against Taylor in District 8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/517102044 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=23 Oct 1986}}</ref>

Dvorak left office in 2002,<ref name="viefortitle"/> being succeeded by his son [[Ryan Dvorak]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coldwell |first1=Jack |title=Younger Dvorak captures father's old seat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/522687785 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=6 Nov 2002}}</ref>

===St. Joseph County prosecutor===
Dvorak successfully ran for St. Joseph County prosecutor in 2002, defeating Republican incumbent Chris Toth.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEWS SHOWS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/522856982 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=20 Oct 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Osco murders timeline |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511404608/?terms=Michael%20Dvorak&match=1 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=10 Aug 2004}}</ref>

Dvorak was sworn-in in 2003.<ref name="viefortitle"/>

On December 16, 2010, Dvorak announced that he would not to file any criminal charges against [[Prince Shembo]], who had been accused of [[sexual assault]] by Lizzy Seeberg nine days prior to [[Death of Lizzy Seeberg|her suicide]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Eric |title=Kelly glad for closure |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511402515 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=2 Jan 2011}}</ref>

In 2015, Dvorak opted against seeking reelection. Democratic nominee Ken Cotter, a longtime staffer of Dvorak, was elected to succeed him.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Buckley |first1=Madeline |title=Prosecutor race goes to Cotter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511657339 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=5 Nov 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Virginia |title=Prosecutor looks back at years in office, forward to new challenge |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/prosecutor-looks-back-at-years-in-office-forward-to-new-challenge/article_07cdf5b5-ac7c-5dcf-b72c-456043bf929e.html?redir=0 |website=South Bend Tribune |access-date=8 June 2021 |language=en |date=15 December 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Dvorak is a [[Roman Catholic]].<ref name="votesmart"/>

Dvorak and his wife Kathleen had eight children, Ryan, Todd, Sean, Brett, Carrie, Brady, Casey, and Tyler.<ref name="votesmart"/>

For decades, Dvorak has resided in [[Granger, Indiana]].<ref name="votesmart"/><ref name="candidates1986"/>

In 1980, Dvorak began a decades-long involvement as a Michiana Soccer Association youth [[soccer]] coach.<ref name="votesmart"/>

Dvorak has served as president of the Quail Valley Homeowners Association.<ref name="votesmart"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dvorak, Michael}}
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:People from Granger, Indiana]]
[[Category:People from South Bend, Indiana]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Loyola University Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:Western State University College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Indiana lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Michael Dvorak - Revision history

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