Michael Mills believes that Georgia citizens deserve the government they want, and the government they need to get us back on the right track towards prosperity for all Georgians. He brings a unique blend of political, business and elections expertise to his candidacy for Georgia Secretary of State, and his efforts to ensure a new way forward. He has a proven track-record of studying tough issues and bringing people and ideas together to solve them in both government and corporate settings.
Mills’ candidacy is based upon the following goals:
- Building a Georgia that allows citizens to have a voice, become prosperous and is a place we can all be proud to call home
- Ensuring the security of Georgia’s election system while limiting unnecessary barriers to voting for all eligible citizens
- Growing jobs and revenue by creating a business resource center for small companies, non-profits and entrepreneurs at the Corporations Division
- Protecting citizens against financial ruin and fraud through the professional Licensing and Securities Divisions
His biography is a study of hard work, commitment to change and passion for implementing common sense public policy. Michael grew up in a hard-working blue collar environment with dedicated parents who instilled a deep sense of values and service to others. His mother Karon was a registered nurse and his father Jim, was a school teacher. The lessons of hard work, perseverance and personal responsibility learned at home stick with him today.
Perhaps the greatest influence on Michael’s core beliefs of honor, hard work and service to others was his grandfather, George Holahan. Michael listened intently to the lessons and stories shared by his grandfather, who was emblematic of the Greatest Generation, having earned a Bronze Star for service to country during World War II, and remaining a pillar of family and community when back in the states.
Michael took these lessons and values with him, attending Hobart College where he was a starting hockey player and active in campus affairs. He then earned a master’s degree in communications from Georgia State University and began a career in politics, serving as legislative aide to former Secretary of State Lewis Massey. Michael next moved to the campaign trail as press secretary on Mark Taylor’s successful bid for lieutenant governor in 1998.
Mills made a natural transition to the public policy world, working at PR firms to shape health care, environmental and transportation legislation. Highlights included building a statewide coalition to educate elected officials about the Kyoto Protocol and global warming, and serving as a key strategist for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s Clean Water Initiative.
But election and civic participation issues have always been central to Michael’s work. His grad school thesis included a plan for increasing youth voter turnout. He served as a board member for the League of Women Voters of Georgia. And launched Vote for America-Georgia, a non-profit dedicated to improving educated voter turnout across the metro Atlanta region. This last organization registered thousands of voters, mobilized volunteers and helped raise 2002 voter turnout by more than seven percent, which bucked traditional double digit declines in off-year elections.
Mills combined the lessons from these varied experiences into the book “Battling Democracy’s Decline: lessons from the trenches,” which was published this year. The book chronicles the history of American civic participation, explains our declining participation and provides real world examples of what inspires people to action.
Mills also has institutional leadership experience, previously running public affairs across the southeast for one of Fortune Magazine’s top five companies. In that role, he advanced the company’s policies and actions on environmental sustainability, health care and employment. He also supported non-profits by driving corporate philanthropy and service, while empowering small and medium-sized businesses to work with one of the world’s largest brands – enhancing local revenues and creating jobs in the process.
Michael is currently a small business owner, and understands the hurdles required to launch and maintain a company. The experience is the driving force behind his desire to make the secretary of state's office more than just a place to file paperwork. Instead, he envisions the office as an incubator and a key resource for small and medium-sized companies and non-profits seeking to do business – and create jobs – in Georgia.
Michael’s commitment to service is evident in his involvement with numerous non-profit and community groups, including: YES!Atlanta, Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition, American Cancer Society, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta, Communities In Schools of Georgia, Communities in Schools of Atlanta and Hands on Atlanta.
He was selected to Georgia Trend Magazine’s list of “40 Under 40,” is a Leadership Buckhead graduate and was named Georgia State University, Communications Department “alumni of the year,” for his work with Coalition for a Voting America and Vote for America-Georgia.
Mills is battle-tested and hungry to win this campaign to ensure citizens have a voice in creating their government. He believes that Georgia is a place of great promise, which has suffered from the shortsightedness and partisan bickering between our elected leadership in recent years. Common sense solutions that rise above rhetoric and partisanship are needed to reverse our fortunes and secure a voice and bright future for all Georgians.
In short, it’s time for a new way forward and Michael Mills is ready for the challenge.
