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Jeff Miller (Texas)
| Jeff Miller | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Location: | Austin, Texas | ||
| Expertise: | Campaign finance | ||
| Affiliation: | Republican | ||
| Education: | California State University, Sacramento | ||
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Jeff Miller is a Republican political strategist who has primarily worked in California politics. He was the campaign manager for Rick Perry's 2016 presidential campaign.[1] Previously, Miller worked as an advisor to former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), as the CFO for the California Republican Party, and as a partner at the California lobbying firm Russo Miller & Associates.[2][3]
Career
Early career
Jeff Miller grew up in Tehachapi, Calif., where he became involved in conservative politics after joining the Navy Reserves. According to The Bakersfield Californian, Miller's "career began as a $5-an-hour intern in political consultant Mark Abernathy's Bakersfield office."[4] In California, Miller worked as a volunteer finance director for the California Republican Party and as the co-finance director of the Republican Governors Association (RGA). It was in this capacity that Miller began working with Rick Perry, who was head of the RGA until his 2012 presidential campaign.[4] Miller served as the California director for Perry's 2012 race.[1]
California ballot measure campaigns, 2012
In 2012, Miller and Tony Russo, who would become partners at Russo Miller & Associates in 2013, were involved in two prominent ballot measure campaigns in California. The group campaigned against California Proposition 30, Sales and Income Tax Increase (2012) and California Proposition 32, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (2012).[5] According to the Washington Post, Miller and Russo raised almost $75 million in their ballot measure campaigns through a Virginia nonprofit organization, Americans for Job Security (AJS), that could maintain donor anonymity.[6] The group then funneled almost $25 million to an Arizona nonprofit, the Center to Protect Patient Rights, headed by Sean Noble. The L.A. Times explained that the group "wanted the Virginia group, Americans for Job Security, to transfer the millions he had raised with Miller to Noble's center, and he wanted Noble to relay the money to California campaign committees, obscuring the money trail."[5]
The names of donors to Americans for Job Security were partially revealed days before the November 2012 election when the California Supreme Court ordered another nonprofit, Americans for Responsible Leadership, to reveal its donors. According to the Washington Post, this order set off a chain reaction: "Two days before the Nov. 6 election, the California Supreme Court ordered Americans for Responsible Leadership to reveal the source of its contribution. It named Noble’s group, which in turned pointed the finger at AJS in Virginia."[6] The California Fair Political Practices Commission called a last-minute $11 million donation "the largest contribution ever disclosed as campaign money laundering in California history."[7]
Russo Miller & Associates
In January 2013, Miller joined Russo to form Russo Miller & Associates, which their website describes as "a cutting edge public affairs company with strong practice areas in government relations, political action and procurement/incentives management."[3][8] Miller took a leave of absence from the firm to work with Rick Perry's political team.[2] The Texas Tribune noted that Miller's decision to work with Perry full-time was based on California's 2012 elections:[9]
| “ | Over dinner in 2012, Miller promised Perry and his wife, Anita, that if California Republicans were licked yet again in 2012, he would pull up his stakes and move to Texas. When Democrats won a supermajority in the California Legislature, and key ballot initiatives went their way, Miller made good on the vow and headed to Austin.[10] | ” |
Americans for Economic Freedom
Miller was named the CEO of Americans for Economic Freedom (AEF) at the group's founding in September 2013.[11] At that time, Make Us Great Again, a Super PAC in support of Rick Perry, filed for termination and transferred its balance of $200,968.43 to AEF, a newly established 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.[12]
Rick Perry presidential campaign, 2016
- See also: Rick Perry presidential campaign, 2016
When Miller became an advisor to Rick Perry in June 2014, it was as CEO of AEF.[3] The Texas Tribune noted, "That essentially makes him a volunteer, but a very influential one, because Miller’s advisory role extends to virtually every facet of the governor’s activities."[9]
After joining Perry's campaign, Miller took a leading role in developing a new image for the candidate. The Texas Tribune cited Perry insiders as to Miller's effect on Perry:[9]
| “ | Whether putting together a string of preparatory workshops with foreign policy experts, positioning Perry on national television shows or helping promote aggressive new stances on international issues, Miller has been the driving force behind the Texan’s political rehabilitation.[10] | ” |
In December 2014, the Washington Post reported that Miller had organized a series of policy briefings for Perry, calling these sessions "exhaustive preparations to run for president in 2016, with dozens of think tank experts flying into Austin this month for daylong briefings and tutorial sessions with the governor."[13]
In early 2015, Miller officially joined RickPAC, Perry's leadership PAC.[3] Perry announced his candidacy for president on June 4, 2015.[14] After the announcement, Miller transitioned from director of RickPAC to the role of campaign manager.[1]
Perry suspended his presidential campaign on September 11, 2015.[15]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 P2016, "Perry for President, Inc.," accessed June 12, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Politico, "The power players behind Rick Perry's campaign," June 4, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 LinkedIn, "Jeff Miller," accessed June 12, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Bakersfield Californian, "Dianne Hardisty: Jeff Miller: GOP's $5-an-hour investment," November 19, 2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 L.A. Times, "Inquiry sheds light on 'dark money' in 2012 election," November 4, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Washington Post, "California donor disclosure case exposes how nonprofit groups can play in politics," November 4, 2013
- ↑ California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Americans for Responsible Leadership Admits Campaign Money Laundering, Discloses $11 Million Donor," accessed June 15, 2015
- ↑ Russo Miller & Associates, "Home," accessed June 15, 2015
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Texas Tribune, "A Look at Perry's New Campaign Guru: Jeff Miller," August 8, 2014
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Rick Perry’s new dark money group," September 26, 2013
- ↑ Federal Elections Commission, "FEC Form 3x, Make Us Great Again," accessed June 12, 2015
- ↑ Washington Post, "Who’s schooling Rick Perry on policy issues in preparation for 2016?" December 9, 2014
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry launches comeback White House bid," June 4, 2015
- ↑ Washington Post, "Rick Perry suspends presidential bid," September 11, 2015
