[1] Shanks legally changed his name to Mike the Mover in 1990 to help promote his furniture moving business.

[3] Though originally motivated to run for office in order to draw attention to Washington's complex regulations for movers, Mover's more recent campaigns have been a marketing tactic to promote his business.

In 2004 he estimated $150,000 (~$231,953 in 2023) of his company's annual revenue came from the name-familiarity generated by his ballot appearances.

[6] Mike the Mover grew up as one of twelve children born to Richard and Patricia Shanks.

Unable to receive a state permit, he was charged 89 times with gross misdemeanors and was convicted of in two of these cases for operating an illegal moving business.