15 Facts About Gifford Miller

Alan Gifford Miller was born on November 6,1969 and is the former Speaker of the New York City Council who represented the 5th district.

Gifford Miller graduated from Middlesex School and Princeton University, earning a degree in political science.

Gifford Miller dropped out of Fordham University Law School in 2000 to focus on his successful race for the New York City Council Speaker.

On January 9,1996, Gifford Miller won his first term in the New York City Council at the age of 26.

Gifford Miller was the first Democrat in recent history elected to represent the traditionally wealthy district.

Gifford Miller easily won reelection in 1997,2001 and 2003; term limits laws prohibited him from seeking a fifth term.

Gifford Miller led the Council in enacting some of the most sweeping changes in land use policy in the City's history.

Gifford Miller set a new standard for affordable housing requirements as part of land use applications, broadening the use of inclusionary zoning.

Gifford Miller pushed through historic rezonings for Manhattan's Far West Side and Chelsea districts and the Williamsburg-Greenpoint area.

Gifford Miller was, according to a New York Magazine article, barraged by local media, and politicos.

Some claimed that Gifford Miller lacked the "ethnic base" necessary to be a successful politician in New York City-wide elections.

Gifford Miller failed to get backing from much of the entrenched local Democratic Party machinery.

Gifford Miller held that his $1.5 million of his fund was exempt from the primary's $5.7 million spending limit as it was self-financed which caused a spat with the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

Gifford Miller saw much of his potential support drift to Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Gifford Miller serves on the board of a hedge fund and numerous non-profit groups, including Friends of the High Line, NYC Outward Bound and the New York Academy of Medicine.