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{{short description|American politician from Texas}}
{{Other uses}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Laura Miller
|name = Laura Miller
|image =
|image =
|imagesize = 150px
|imagesize = 150px
|office = 58th [[Mayor of Dallas]]
|office = 57th [[Mayor of Dallas]]
|predecessor = [[Ron Kirk]]
|predecessor = [[Ron Kirk]]
|successor = [[Tom Leppert]]
|successor = [[Tom Leppert]]
|term_start = February 20, 2002
|term_start = February 20, 2002
|term_end = June 25, 2007
|term_end = June 25, 2007
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|11|18}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|11|18}}
|birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
|residence = [[Dallas, Texas]]
|residence = [[Dallas, Texas]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|alma_mater = [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
|party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|spouse = [[Steven D. Wolens]]
|spouse = [[Steven D. Wolens|Steven Wolens]]
|religion = [[Judaism]]<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306119,00.html</ref>
}}
}}


'''Laura Miller''' (born November 18, 1958) served as [[mayor]] of [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]] ([[United States|U.S.]]) from 2002 through 2007. She did not run for re-election in the 2007 mayoral race. She was the third woman to serve as mayor of Dallas.
'''Laura Miller''' (born November 18, 1958) is an American journalist and politician who served as the 57th [[mayor]] of [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]] from 2002 through 2007. She decided not to run for re-election in 2007. She was the third woman to serve as mayor of Dallas.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Laura Miller was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. She attended the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].
Laura Miller was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. She attended the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]], where she graduated with a degree in political science and journalism in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://polisci.wisc.edu/staff/laura-miller/|title= Laura Miller|access-date=December 30, 2023|website= polisci.wisc.edu|date= 19 August 2016}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==


===Journalism===
===Journalism===
Miller and spent the early part of her career as a [[journalist]]. As a journalist, Miller worked as a staff writer for ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' and ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' and then as a columnist for the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' and the now-defunct ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]''. In 1991, Miller became an investigative reporter for the ''[[Dallas Observer]]'' and then a columnist for ''[[D Magazine]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Miller spent the early part of her career as a [[journalist]] working as a staff writer for ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' and ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' and then as a columnist for the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' and the now-defunct ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]''. In 1991, Miller became an investigative reporter for the ''[[Dallas Observer]]'' and then a columnist for ''[[D Magazine]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}


===Politics===
===Politics===
Line 43: Line 42:


Miller was succeeded in office by Republican [[Tom Leppert]].{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Miller was succeeded in office by Republican [[Tom Leppert]].{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

In May 2019. Miller made an unsuccessful run for Dallas City Council to represent District 13.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/jennifer-staubach-gates-defeats-former-dallas-mayor-laura-miller/|title = Council Member Jennifer Staubach Gates Easily Wins Re-Election by Defeating Former Mayor Laura Miller for District 13 Seat| website=[[CBS News]] |date = 4 May 2019}}</ref>


===Environmental efforts===
===Environmental efforts===
Laura Miller serves as Director of Projects, Texas,<ref>http://www.summitpower.com/staff.htm#Laura</ref> for [[Summit Power|Summit Power Group]], a Seattle-based developer of wind, solar and gas-fired power plants. Summit was recently selected by the [[U.S. Department of Energy]] to receive a $350 million cost-sharing award to build the world’s first [[Integrated gasification combined cycle|IGCC]] (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) clean-coal power plant located near [[Odessa, Texas]]. The low-emissions project, called the Texas Clean Energy Project, is projected to capture just under 3 million tons a year of carbon dioxide, which will be used for enhanced oil recovery in the [[Permian Basin (North America)|West Texas Permian Basin]].<ref>http://www.energy.gov/news/8356.htm</ref>
Laura Miller serves as Director of Projects, Texas,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.summitpower.com/staff.htm |title=Summit Power Group |access-date=2010-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001052806/http://www.summitpower.com/staff.htm#Laura |archive-date=2009-10-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> for Summit Power Group, a Seattle-based developer of wind, solar and gas-fired power plants. Summit was recently selected by the [[U.S. Department of Energy]] to receive a $350 million cost-sharing award to build the world’s first [[Integrated gasification combined cycle|IGCC]] (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) clean-coal power plant located near [[Odessa, Texas]]. The low-emissions project, called the Texas Clean Energy Project, is projected to capture just under 3 million tons a year of carbon dioxide, which will be used for [[enhanced oil recovery]] in the [[Permian Basin (North America)|West Texas Permian Basin]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.energy.gov/news/8356.htm |title=Department of Energy - Secretary Chu Announces $3 Billion Investment for Carbon Capture and Sequestration |access-date=2010-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527094243/http://energy.gov/news/8356.htm |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Miller's other environmental accomplishments included the formation and co-leading (with former Houston mayor [[Bill White (Texas politician)|Bill White]]) of the Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition, made up of 36 cities, counties and school districts in Texas that opposed the construction of 11 coal plants (which would have used older technology) by [[Energy Future Holdings|TXU]], a Dallas-based energy company. Ultimately, TXU (now called Energy Future Holdings) officially suspended its plans to build eight of the eleven plants.<ref>http://www.luminant.com/news/newsrel/detail.aspx?prid=1025</ref> As a result of these efforts, Miller won a 2008 Climate Protection Award from the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] for this nationally-recognized effort,<ref>http://www.greendallas.net/pdfs/TCACC_EPA_Award_050808.pdf</ref> which has been memorialized in a documentary film, produced and narrated by [[Robert Redford]], and entitled ''Fighting Goliath: The Texas Coal Wars''.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Miller's other environmental accomplishments included the formation and co-leading (with former Houston mayor [[Bill White (Texas politician)|Bill White]]) of the Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition, made up of 36 cities, counties and school districts in Texas that opposed the construction of 11 coal plants (which would have used older technology) by [[Energy Future Holdings|TXU]], a Dallas-based energy company. Ultimately, TXU (now called Energy Future Holdings) officially suspended its plans to build eight of the eleven plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.luminant.com/news/newsrel/detail.aspx?prid=1025 |title=Luminant - News Release |accessdate=2011-04-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714003230/http://www.luminant.com/news/newsrel/detail.aspx?prid=1025 |archivedate=2011-07-14 }}</ref> As a result of these efforts, Miller won a 2008 Climate Protection Award from the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] for this nationally-recognized effort,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greendallas.net/pdfs/TCACC_EPA_Award_050808.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.greendallas.net |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723141018/http://www.greendallas.net/pdfs/TCACC_EPA_Award_050808.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which has been memorialized in a documentary film, produced and narrated by [[Robert Redford]], and entitled ''Fighting Goliath: The Texas Coal Wars''.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Miller is married to Dallas attorney and former Texas [[Texas Legislature|State Representative]] [[Steven D. Wolens]]. They have two daughters, Alex and Lily, and a son, Max.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}
Miller is married to Dallas attorney and former Texas [[Texas Legislature|State Representative]] [[Steven D. Wolens]]. They have three children.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}}


⚫
In 1998, Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments which effectively eradicated the cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/portfolios/samples_files/QoUMhmWn6px20cuSFNlk_XFX_.pdf|title=Freelance Connect}}</ref>
Miller was seen attending many popular rock concerts at the now closed Gypsy Tea Room during her tenure as mayor, notably accompanying her son Max to a sold-out [[Something Corporate]] concert.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}


==See also==
⚫
In 1998, Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments which effectively eradicated the cancer.<ref>http://www.mediabistro.com/portfolios/samples_files/QoUMhmWn6px20cuSFNlk_XFX_.pdf</ref>
*[[2002 Dallas mayoral special election]]
*[[2003 Dallas mayoral election]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 62: Line 65:
*[http://www.summitpower.com Summit Power Group, Inc website]
*[http://www.summitpower.com Summit Power Group, Inc website]
*[http://www.fightinggoliathfilm.com Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars]
*[http://www.fightinggoliathfilm.com Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars]
*[http://texascleanenergyproject.com/ Texas Clean Energy Project website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100126115357/http://texascleanenergyproject.com/ Texas Clean Energy Project website]


{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
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title=[[List of Dallas Mayors|Mayors of Dallas]]|
title=[[List of Dallas Mayors|Mayors of Dallas]]|
after=[[Tom Leppert]]|
after=[[Tom Leppert]]|
years=2002-2007
years=2002–2007
}}
}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}

{{Mayors of Dallas}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Laura}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Laura}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
⚫
[[Category:American women journalists]]
⚫
[[Category:Women mayors of places in the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jewish American mayors]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Jewish American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Texas politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Texas]]
[[Category:American women columnists]]
⚫
[[Category:American women journalists]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2019 United States elections]]
[[Category:Dallas City Council members]]
[[Category:Journalists from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Journalists from Dallas]]
[[Category:Mayors of Dallas]]
[[Category:Mayors of Dallas]]
[[Category:Miami Herald people]]
[[Category:New York Daily News people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Politicians from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Dallas City Council members]]
[[Category:Spouses of Texas politicians]]
[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
[[Category:Texas Democrats]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison alumni]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni]]
[[Category:Women in Texas politics]]
[[Category:Women city councillors in Texas]]
⚫
[[Category:Women mayors of places in Texas]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 21 August 2024

Laura Miller
57th Mayor of Dallas
In office
February 20, 2002 – June 25, 2007
Preceded byRon Kirk
Succeeded byTom Leppert
Personal details
Born (1958-11-18) November 18, 1958 (age 66)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyIndependent
SpouseSteven Wolens
ResidenceDallas, Texas
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA)

Laura Miller (born November 18, 1958) is an American journalist and politician who served as the 57th mayor of Dallas, Texas from 2002 through 2007. She decided not to run for re-election in 2007. She was the third woman to serve as mayor of Dallas.

Early life

[edit]

Laura Miller was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she graduated with a degree in political science and journalism in 1980.[1]

Career

[edit]

Journalism

[edit]

Miller spent the early part of her career as a journalist working as a staff writer for The Miami Herald and The Dallas Morning News and then as a columnist for the New York Daily News and the now-defunct Dallas Times Herald. In 1991, Miller became an investigative reporter for the Dallas Observer and then a columnist for D Magazine.[citation needed]

Politics

[edit]

In 1998, Miller was elected to the Dallas City Council representing Oak Cliff and southwest Dallas. In 2002, Miller was elected as Mayor of Dallas, replacing Ron Kirk who left the post to run for the United States Senate position vacated by retiring Texas Senator Phil Gramm.[citation needed]

She fought for and won approval of a strengthened smoking ban, an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, a revamped public housing system, a $23 million homeless assistance center, major changes to the city's Trinity River Corridor improvement plan and a taxpayer-funded downtown redevelopment effort.[citation needed]

She participated in an agreement between American Airlines, the City of Fort Worth, DFW Airport and Southwest Airlines to revise the federal flight restrictions at Love Field Airport, which involved: replacing geographic limitations on Love Field service with: flight caps determined by a limitation on the number of gates allowed at Love Field, restrictions on the rights of any new air carrier to service North Texas via any airport other than DFW Airport, and banning international commercial air travel at Love Field. The unique agreement and resulting oligopoly required an exemption from federal antitrust laws, which Miller also successfully helped obtain.[citation needed]

David Levey, executive vice president for Forest City Enterprises, credited Miller for reviving a $250 million deal to renovate downtown's long vacant Mercantile National Bank Building.[citation needed]

During her term, the Dallas Cowboys announced plans to build Cowboys Stadium and many citizens hoped it would be built in Dallas. The city and the Dallas Cowboys, however, failed to reach a deal and the stadium was built in Arlington.[citation needed]

She announced parade plans for the Dallas Mavericks championship in 2006, prior to the Mavericks losing four straight games and ultimately the NBA championship to the Miami Heat in six games.[citation needed]

Miller was succeeded in office by Republican Tom Leppert.[citation needed]

In May 2019. Miller made an unsuccessful run for Dallas City Council to represent District 13.[2]

Environmental efforts

[edit]

Laura Miller serves as Director of Projects, Texas,[3] for Summit Power Group, a Seattle-based developer of wind, solar and gas-fired power plants. Summit was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive a $350 million cost-sharing award to build the world’s first IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) clean-coal power plant located near Odessa, Texas. The low-emissions project, called the Texas Clean Energy Project, is projected to capture just under 3 million tons a year of carbon dioxide, which will be used for enhanced oil recovery in the West Texas Permian Basin.[4]

Miller's other environmental accomplishments included the formation and co-leading (with former Houston mayor Bill White) of the Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition, made up of 36 cities, counties and school districts in Texas that opposed the construction of 11 coal plants (which would have used older technology) by TXU, a Dallas-based energy company. Ultimately, TXU (now called Energy Future Holdings) officially suspended its plans to build eight of the eleven plants.[5] As a result of these efforts, Miller won a 2008 Climate Protection Award from the Environmental Protection Agency for this nationally-recognized effort,[6] which has been memorialized in a documentary film, produced and narrated by Robert Redford, and entitled Fighting Goliath: The Texas Coal Wars.[citation needed]

Personal life

[edit]

Miller is married to Dallas attorney and former Texas State Representative Steven D. Wolens. They have three children.[citation needed]

In 1998, Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments which effectively eradicated the cancer.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Laura Miller". polisci.wisc.edu. 19 August 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Council Member Jennifer Staubach Gates Easily Wins Re-Election by Defeating Former Mayor Laura Miller for District 13 Seat". CBS News. 4 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Summit Power Group". Archived from the original on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  4. ^ "Department of Energy - Secretary Chu Announces $3 Billion Investment for Carbon Capture and Sequestration". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  5. ^ "Luminant - News Release". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.greendallas.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Freelance Connect" (PDF).
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Mayors of Dallas
2002–2007 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Laura_Miller_(politician)&oldid=1241550435"