Michael Quinn Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Michael Quinn Sullivan is president of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
, a non-profit organization based in Austin
.
in College Station
,
newspapers, the Denison Herald in Denison
and the Brazosport Facts. At both papers he covered local government issues and wrote a weekly commentary. During this time he also wrote for a magazine, Texas Republic.
In 1995, he left print journalism
to serve as press secretary
for Republican
congressional candidate Ron Paul
, M.D
. After the successful election in 1996, Sullivan moved to Washington, D.C.
, to serve in Paul's Capitol office.
Sullivan left government service in 1999 to join the staff of the Media Research Center
. There, he developed and refined communications training programs while he oversaw the organization's Conservative Communications Center public relations
activities.
He went on the staff of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
in 2001. There he handled media and government affairs. He also served as the organization's vice president.
In 2006 he became president of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
columnist described Sullivan as someone who "slays taxpayer dragons in Austin… When the heat is on in Austin, Michael Quinn Sullivan knows how to make it even hotter.”
In 2010, Campaigns & Elections magazine listed Sullivan as one of the 50 most influential Republicans in Texas.
Texas Monthly
's February 2011 cover story, Power Company, listed Sullivan as among the 25 most powerful people working in state politics, styling him as "the enforcer."
, the Dallas Morning News, the Manchester Union Leader, the Augusta Chronicle
, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
, the Raleigh News & Observer, the Richmond Times-Dispatch
, DoubleThink magazine and others, as well as being carried by the Scripps Howard News Service.
, Sullivan did not take a military contract after graduation. In 2010, however, he was commissioned into the Texas State Guard
.
.
Sullivan, his wife, and three children reside in Austin. He is an avid runner and a devotee of the Austrian School of economics
.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility , a premier project of Empower Texans, is a political advocacy group based in Austin, Texas. The stated mission of TFR is to, "create and sustain a system of strong fiscal stewardship within all levels of Texas government, ensuring the greatest amounts of economic...
, a non-profit organization based in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Education
Growing up, Sullivan moved frequently around Texas, graduating from Sherman High School in 1988. He then graduated from Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in College Station
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
,
Professional
Sullivan began his career as a reporter for two daily TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
newspapers, the Denison Herald in Denison
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and the Brazosport Facts. At both papers he covered local government issues and wrote a weekly commentary. During this time he also wrote for a magazine, Texas Republic.
In 1995, he left print journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
to serve as press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
congressional candidate Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
, M.D
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
. After the successful election in 1996, Sullivan moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, to serve in Paul's Capitol office.
Sullivan left government service in 1999 to join the staff of the Media Research Center
Media Research Center
The Media Research Center is a content analysis organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, founded in 1987 by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III...
. There, he developed and refined communications training programs while he oversaw the organization's Conservative Communications Center public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
activities.
He went on the staff of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is an Independent think tank based in Austin, Texas. It is a member of the State Policy Network, a network of free-market leaning think tanks....
in 2001. There he handled media and government affairs. He also served as the organization's vice president.
In 2006 he became president of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
Awards & Mentions
A Fort Worth Star-TelegramFort Worth Star-Telegram
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a major U.S. daily newspaper serving Fort Worth and the western half of the North Texas area known as the Metroplex. Its area of domination is checked by its main rival, The Dallas Morning News, which is published from the eastern half of the Metroplex. It is owned...
columnist described Sullivan as someone who "slays taxpayer dragons in Austin… When the heat is on in Austin, Michael Quinn Sullivan knows how to make it even hotter.”
In 2010, Campaigns & Elections magazine listed Sullivan as one of the 50 most influential Republicans in Texas.
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
's February 2011 cover story, Power Company, listed Sullivan as among the 25 most powerful people working in state politics, styling him as "the enforcer."
Publications
As a columnist, Sullivan's commentaries have appeared in publications around the state and nation, such as the Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, the Dallas Morning News, the Manchester Union Leader, the Augusta Chronicle
Augusta Chronicle
The Augusta Chronicle is the major daily newspaper of Augusta, Georgia and is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States. The paper is known for its coverage of the Masters Tournament, which is played in Augusta. Among locals, the paper is commonly referred to as "The AC"-History:The paper...
, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is the primary newspaper in Milwaukee, the largest newspaper in Wisconsin and is distributed widely throughout the state...
, the Raleigh News & Observer, the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond the capital of Virginia, United States, and is commonly considered the "newspaper of record" for events occurring in much of the state...
, DoubleThink magazine and others, as well as being carried by the Scripps Howard News Service.
Military
Despite being in the Texas A&M University Corps of CadetsTexas A&M University Corps of Cadets
The Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets is a student military organization at Texas A&M University...
, Sullivan did not take a military contract after graduation. In 2010, however, he was commissioned into the Texas State Guard
Texas State Guard
The Texas State Guard is one of three branches of the military forces of Texas, reporting to the Adjutant General, and under the command of the Governor. The other branches of the State Military Forces of Texas are the Texas Army National Guard, and the Texas Air National Guard.-History:The Texas...
.
Personal
He is an Eagle ScoutEagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
.
Sullivan, his wife, and three children reside in Austin. He is an avid runner and a devotee of the Austrian School of economics
Austrian School
The Austrian School of economics is a heterodox school of economic thought. It advocates methodological individualism in interpreting economic developments , the theory that money is non-neutral, the theory that the capital structure of economies consists of heterogeneous goods that have...
.