Mike Signer
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Signer is an attorney and small businessman, and a democratic activist from Virginia. He is the founder and managing principal of Madison Law & Strategy Group, PLLC, and the Chair and creator of New Dominion Project, a Virginia-based political action committee. In his first bid for public office, he ran unsuccessfully for the 2009 Democratic
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
, receiving some 21.24% of the vote. For four years, Mike has taught graduate seminars at Virginia Tech’s Master’s Program in Public and International Affairs in Alexandria, Virginia.
in Arlington, Virginia and magna cum laude from Princeton University
. He earned a Ph.D.
in political science from the University of California, Berkeley
and a J.D.
from the University of Virginia School of Law
, where he was president of the Law Democrats and co-founder of the American Constitution Society.
, Signer served as associate communications director for Wesley Clark
's presidential campaign, and later as senior policy adviser for John Edwards
. He also served as election protection director for the Democratic campaign in Virginia. Additionally, Signer founded and co-chaired the New Electoral Reform Alliance for Virginia, which successfully fought for statutory fixes in Virginia’s General Assembly.
Signer joined the administration of Virginia Governor
Mark Warner
in 2005, where he was deputy counselor to the governor on Homeland Security and National Guard policy. According to his web site, he counseled the governor on "issues ranging from executive clemency to civil settlements to FOIA requests," and chaired a special committee on the repercussions of DNA analysis in criminal files. He also served as senior policy advisor and director of the Homeland Security Presidential Transition Initiative at the Center for American Progress
, and is a principal at the Truman National Security Project.He also serves as vice chair of Arlington County’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee.
In the 2008 elections, Signer was the senior strategist for Tom Perriello
, who defeated six-term United States Representative
Virgil Goode
in Virginia's 5th congressional district
. During the Obama presidential transition, Mike served as an advisor to the State Department Transition Team.
Signer told a crowd gathered at the 2009 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond that he is running to make the role of lieutenant governor "a bully pulpit" to tackle unresolved issues and to make the office "more than a steppingstone."
Signer also wrote Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from Its Worst Enemies, a book on diplomacy, history, and national security. He also founded the E3 Initiative, a group of energy-related companies that has promoted the relationship between energy policy and national security.
In 2010, Mike was a part of a U.S. government sponsored mission that traveled to Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, to monitor Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections.
for opposing a House of Delegates measure that would have used federal stimulus money to expand unemployment coverage by $125 million. He has received the endorsement of prominent rural strategist David "Mudcat" Saunders..
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
, receiving some 21.24% of the vote. For four years, Mike has taught graduate seminars at Virginia Tech’s Master’s Program in Public and International Affairs in Alexandria, Virginia.
Early life and education
Signer graduated from Washington-Lee High SchoolWashington-Lee High School
Washington-Lee High School is one of three traditional public high schools in the Arlington Public Schools district in Arlington, Virginia, covering grades 9-12. As of 2009-2010, the school had over 1,800 students and 120 teachers...
in Arlington, Virginia and magna cum laude from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He earned a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in political science from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
, where he was president of the Law Democrats and co-founder of the American Constitution Society.
Career and activism
In the 2004 electionUnited States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Signer served as associate communications director for Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
's presidential campaign, and later as senior policy adviser for John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
. He also served as election protection director for the Democratic campaign in Virginia. Additionally, Signer founded and co-chaired the New Electoral Reform Alliance for Virginia, which successfully fought for statutory fixes in Virginia’s General Assembly.
Signer joined the administration of Virginia Governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
in 2005, where he was deputy counselor to the governor on Homeland Security and National Guard policy. According to his web site, he counseled the governor on "issues ranging from executive clemency to civil settlements to FOIA requests," and chaired a special committee on the repercussions of DNA analysis in criminal files. He also served as senior policy advisor and director of the Homeland Security Presidential Transition Initiative at the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
, and is a principal at the Truman National Security Project.He also serves as vice chair of Arlington County’s Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee.
In the 2008 elections, Signer was the senior strategist for Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
, who defeated six-term United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Virgil Goode
Virgil Goode
Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. , is an American politician, last serving as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented the 5th congressional district of Virginia from 1997 to 2009...
in Virginia's 5th congressional district
Virginia's 5th congressional district
Virginia's fifth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. It covers all or part of Greene, Campbell, Bedford, Albermarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Buckingham, Cumberland, Appomattox, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Franklin, Henry,...
. During the Obama presidential transition, Mike served as an advisor to the State Department Transition Team.
Signer told a crowd gathered at the 2009 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond that he is running to make the role of lieutenant governor "a bully pulpit" to tackle unresolved issues and to make the office "more than a steppingstone."
Signer also wrote Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from Its Worst Enemies, a book on diplomacy, history, and national security. He also founded the E3 Initiative, a group of energy-related companies that has promoted the relationship between energy policy and national security.
In 2010, Mike was a part of a U.S. government sponsored mission that traveled to Panjshir Province, Afghanistan, to monitor Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections.
Lieutenant Governor campaign
Signer officially announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor on April 6, 2009 with a tour of 20 events across the state of Virginia. In the first quarter of 2009, Signer raised $250,000 from more than 800 donors. Signer has been critical of Lt. Gov. Bill BollingBill Bolling
William T. "Bill" Bolling is the current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Running as a Republican, he was elected twice to the position by defeating his Democratic opponent in both the 2005 and 2009 general elections. He is the first Lieutenant Governor in the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve two...
for opposing a House of Delegates measure that would have used federal stimulus money to expand unemployment coverage by $125 million. He has received the endorsement of prominent rural strategist David "Mudcat" Saunders..