Michael S. Montgomery has followed politics since his dad took him to a campaign speech by Barry Goldwater in 1964. He has served as a reporter and editor at several newspapers, including The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. A native of the Big Easy, Montgomery majored in communications at the University of New Orleans and was educated by the Jesuits in high school. He has covered stories ranging from the image of Jesus on a stop sign to the 1987 stock market crash. He lives in Kenner, a New Orleans suburb, with his wife Jo Anne and their tabby cat, Hoppy.