As a single father working a blue-collar job, Charlie Shick lives a lifestyle very common among Americans, but with a voice seldom heard in American politics.

Born and raised in Cedar Springs, Michigan, Charlie graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 2001. Throughout most of his high school career he considered a career in the Marine Corps but changed his mind his senior year and chose to study Environmental Engineering at Michigan Technological University. It was also at this time that he took notice of the Green Party while observing what Ralph Nader described as "Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee" battle in the 2000 presidential election.

Finding that engineering was not a good fit, Charlie left MTU and attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and later Grand Rapids Community College to study earth science and natural resource management. While working a part-time job in college he severely injured his back forcing him to drop out and take a warehouse job where he could earn health insurance benefits. 

Still working in the aforementioned warehouse, Charlie interacts daily with a broad strata of society. His job duties enable him to communicate with immigrants from Europe, Africa, and Latin America, as well as Americans of all races and backgrounds.

After running for Congress in 2010, Charlie is now setting his sights locally and running for Kent County Clerk in 2012.