Michael Matheson was born on September 8, 1970 and has been an SNP MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) since 1999, representing Central Scotland. He was the Shadow Deputy Minister for Justice from May 1999 until September 2004. In September 2004 he was appointed Shadow Minister for Culture and Sport. Michael served on the Parliament's Justice 1 Committee from January 2000 until October 2004. During the 2000 SNP deputy leadership election he was the campaign manager for Roseanna Cunningham. Michael first stood for the SNP in the 1997 general election for the Hamilton North and Bellshill seat. In 1999 and 2003 he contested the Falkirk West seat.