| Michael Alan Dixon | |
| Office: | Mayor of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania |
| Term Start: | January 1, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Shawn P. Reed |
| Birth Date: | 31 May 1980 |
| Party: | Democrat |
| Education: | Indiana University of Pennsylvania (BA) Pittsburgh Technical College (Certificate) Robert Morris University (MS) |
Michael Dixon is a software engineer and American politician who was elected mayor of the Borough of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania in 2022. Since being elected Michael has had many accomplishments in his community. Most notably, was his award by the local newspaper Gazette 2.0 where he was honored with the award of "2022's Person of the Year" award.
Dixon was born and raised in Southview, Pennsylvania where he was raised in his long-standing family home by his Father Lee Dixon (Deceased 2024) and Mother Maryanne Dixon (Deceased 2011).
Lee Alan Dixon, born April 19th, 1959, to William and Coleen Dixon of Carnegie, PA. Lee graduated from Fort Cherry School District in 1977 with a high school diploma. Years later, he attended The Electronics Institute, Pittsburgh, PA in 1985, graduating with an associate's degree. For much of his working career, Lee was a supervising mailroom manager for 24 years with the Observer-Reporter Newspaper until the cessation of newspaper printing in Washington, PA in 2013, when he was laid off permanently. After divorcing Maryanne in 1999, Lee went on to marry the love of his life, Tammy (Sickles) Dixon in August of 2001. Lee was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2020, and after a protracted illness and many complications, he succumbed to the illness on March 12th 2024.
Maryanne (Riemer) Dixon, Born October 14th, 1952, to Clement and Mary Alice Riemer of Leetsdale, PA. Maryanne was a 1970 graduate of Quaker Valley School District and a 1972 graduate of Duquesne University with an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Development. Maryanne held many roles throughout her life that included, Stay at home mom, Daycare Director, Preschool Teacher, Plastic Factory Employee, Housekeeping staff. None of those roles were important to her like when she was the Director of Raggedy Ann's Daycare in McDonald, PA. Maryanne's legacy lives on in the hundreds, if not thousands, of local children that she educated in preschool. Maryanne struggled to find consistent work after losing her position with Stylette Plastics in Oakdale, PA in 2004 due to the flooding caused by Hurricane Ivan. Maryanne was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in March 2010, and succumbed to the disease on January 1st of 2011.
Michael Dixon attended Fort Cherry School District where he participated in band, chorus, art, and played basketball, and tennis. Dixon went on to represent the school district at county and district chorus festivals in High School, as he was a talented musician (vocalist). His hard work and dedication to music earned him a place in the school of music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), first majoring in Music Education, and then later earning a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science. Dixon also voluntarily participated in the Army Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) at IUP and was an officer for multiple years with the ROTC affliated service fraternity Rho Tau Chi (PTX).
After graduating and entering the workforce, Dixon returned to post-secondary education years later at Pittsburgh Technical College where he earned Microsoft Technology Certifications, and subsequently a Master of Science in Internet Information Systems from Robert Morris University graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2012.
Dixon is a man of many backgrounds. For a decade, Dixon worked as a loader for the Observer-Reporter Newspaper (2000-2009) in the mailroom while working through his undergraduate degree.
After graduation in 2003, Dixon struggled to find his place in the world. He took many different odd jobs through the years, including a time as with a vehicle repossessing company, in a commercial bread-pan factory, various fast-food and short-order food service ventures, and as a dispatcher for an airport parking shuttle and a laundry machine repair service, and then as a customer service professional for a healthcare company.
In 2008, Dixon landed the job that would change his trajectory as a Disability Claims Manager for a large, multinational Disability Insurance Carrier. During his 6-year tenure with them, Dixon took an opportunity to further his education and make a bold career change to Software Engineering.
Since 2012, Dixon has had a successful career as a Software Engineer, primarily focused on web and internet using Microsoft based technologies, working much of his career in the Legal Software niche.
Dixon became a 'voice' advocating for democracy and freedom on social media during the time surrounding the 2016 election. That advocacy was noticed by some other local leaders and elected officials. Those actions would subsequently lead him to consider entering the political realm in the years following.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Dixon ran a microscopic campaign for Mayor. Spending only $900 total for the year on signs, postcards and postage, Dixon ran a true grass roots campaign of contact with the people he wanted to represent. An unknown person to most in Coraopolis, Dixon had only lived in Coraopolis since 2015. He showed up at every public event in town that year, presenting himself as a sensible option for mayor, who would always be a voice of the people, for the people. A sentiment that resonated with the people of Coraopolis, and still does today.
Dixon ran unopposed for the primary election, and subsequently defeated life-long Coraopolis resident, fire department assistanct chief, multi year borough council member and former president of council, a sometime Democrat, often Republican, Robb J. Cardimen in the general election.