By Donna Lamb

Well, despite the qualms of many two years ago when a new fifty one-member New York City Council was sworn in with thirty eight freshman members, there is no doubt about it now. This City Council has done an extraordinary job under incredibly difficult circumstances.

One of the many reasons this particular council has been so successful is Council Speaker Gifford Miller. He has stood at the helm as the council met the challenges head-on, including those brought about by the 9/11 disaster and the city’s budget crisis.

Therefore, in the first City Council meeting of 2004, when it came time to put up names for the office of Speaker, the path was clear. Majority Leader Joel Rivera  (right) took the floor and nominated Miller, stating that under his leadership, "We’ve been able to accomplish so much in so little time. We’ve passed very progressive pieces of legislation that have solidified our city, protected our kids, and insured that homeowners will not be disenfranchised. That’s why it’s an honor to nominate him again so he can continue to move us forward into the next two years as we tackle the very difficult tasks at hand."

Seconding the nomination was Deputy Majority Leader, Bill Perkins, (lower right) who had run against Gifford Miller for the office of Speaker two short years ago. Perkins revealed that at that time, he had told Miller he would join with him in making this one of the most productive, prolific, energetic councils in the history of the City. "Under Miller’s leadership that has proven to be the case," Perkins stated. "We have gone from historic legislation regarding living wages to historic legislation on childhood lead paint poisoning protection. We’ve even had, thanks to Council Member Charles Barron, a historic first hearing on reparations. So I’m confident that under his leadership, we will continue to be responsive to the needs of the people. It is with great honor that I second the nomination of Gifford Miller for Speaker."

When Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum, asked if there were further nominations, there were none. And when a voice vote was taken, a chorus of ayes rang out, followed by not a single "nay." "The ayes have it!" Gotbaum then declared to prolonged applause.

So who is Gifford Miller and what does he stand for?

Alan Gifford Miller — or "Giff" as his friends call him – is a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised in the neighborhood he now represents, the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His mother, Lynden, is a prominent landscape designer, and his father, Leigh, was a political appointee under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

While attending Princeton University, he met Pamela Addison, whom he eventually married. She is a lawyer and they have two children, Addison, who is two and a half years old, and Marshall, one and a half.

After graduating with honors in 1992 with a degree in political science, Miller moved to Washington, DC to find a job with the Clinton administration. At the same time, his Council Member in New York, Carolyn Maloney, was elected to Congress. He sent her his resume and was hired. Miller started in her office as the receptionist and worked his way up to become her New York City Chief of Staff.

In the winter of 1995, then-mayor Giuliani appointed the Council Member in Miller's district to a special office, which left a vacancy in the Council. Miller decided to run in the special election, and won.

Once he entered the City Council, Miller knew he wanted to become Speaker. In 2000, he started a group called Council 2001, which provided volunteers and campaign funds to help prospective Council Members run for office. Of course once they won, they backed his bid for Speaker. In a unanimous vote in January 2002, he was elected Speaker of the New York City Council.

Upon succeeding Peter Vallone, Miller wasted no time in making his mark on the Council. He appointed the first Latino as Majority Leader, and his selection of new committee Chairs reflected the City's ethnic diversity. He also cut his own salary by 10% in acknowledgement of the City's fiscal crisis. And, very importantly, Miller was true to his word and backed the Fresh Democracy Council’s proposed rule changes to democratize the City Council and make its legislative processes more transparent and easier for voters to access and understand.

Miller has been a leader in the fight to increase education dollars for city schools with the Council's "Education First" campaign. After months of intense work, the Speaker won a major victory when Albany lawmakers and the Mayor agreed to restore funding for education. Under his leadership, the Council has passed legislation that strictly limits the practice of predatory lending, that provides real opportunity to those moving from welfare to work, and that helps New Yorkers with limited English obtain the services they need in a language they understand. He also created a Subcommittee on Immigration, chaired by Council Member Kendall Stewart, specifically to address the countless issues facing the City’s large immigrant population.

Miller finds his job very satisfying and says, "I love municipal government because the actions that the Council takes directly impact and improve New Yorker's lives. The Council allocates money for trees to beautify neighborhoods, fixes potholes and places stop lights to ensure safety."

In his speech to the City Council upon being reelected, Speaker Miller concluded by saying, "As we begin a new term, our City’s future is rich with promise. We have laid a foundation for growth. We have defended the vulnerable, stood up to the powerful and fought to secure and strengthen New York’s claim as the greatest city of the world."