In memoriam: Mike Gill

From: POLITICO Influence - Tuesday Feb 06,2024 11:14 pm

Feb 06, 2024

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With help from Daniel Lippman

IN MEMORIAM: Mike Gill, a senior vice president for capital markets at the Housing Policy Council, died over the weekend, days after he was shot during a carjacking spree in the city that left one other victim dead. He was 56.

— Gill was a father of three who started his career in Washington waiting tables while working as a Hill staffer, and worked at the Ripon Society, at Crowell and Moring and as a chief of staff to former CFTC Chair Chris Giancarlo before joining the Housing Policy Council in 2021. Those who knew Gill described him to PI as a doting husband and father who was kind-hearted, genuine, charismatic and generous with his time. He served on the D.C. Board of Elections and did pro bono work representing undocumented minors in the court system as well.

— “When he joined us in 2021, it became apparent to all of us here just how devoted he was to his wife and kids and how important they were in his life,” HPC President Ed DeMarco told PI. At an event at Gill’s church after the shooting, DeMarco added, “the outpouring of love for him last week at that impromptu gathering … speaks volumes of what a man he was.”

— He “was really committed to the community and tried to make it a better place,” Drew Maloney, the president and CEO of the American Investment Council, said in an interview. “All the neighbors loved Mike — he was active in his neighborhood, so, you know, [it’s] a real travesty.”

— Maloney had known Gill since their daughters were in kindergarten together, and said the two families became closer through church. “He helped coach the soccer teams that the girls all played on,” he said, adding that their daughters remain close friends. The families would spend Christmases together with other families who didn’t travel for the holidays, or when the Gills’ parents were in town, he added.

— “What struck me about Mike was how down-to-earth he was,” said Eric Pan, a colleague of Gill’s at the CFTC who now leads the Investment Company Institute. At official meetings overseas, Pan wrote in an email, Gill “disarmed our toughest foreign counterparts with his smile and authenticity,” while back in the office he “had a true open-door policy where anyone could just drop by his office, and, if you timed your visit right, he would invite you in for a finger of Maker’s Mark and just chat about anything under the sun.”

— He “was always remarking on how lucky he was,” Pan added, noting that “marrying Kristina was his greatest achievement, and nothing made him happier than making a mug of coffee and taking his dogs out walking into Rock Creek Park.”

— Bernard Fulton, who overlapped with Gill at HPC before moving to the National Multifamily Housing Council, described Gill in an interview as “a real role model for how I think people should be in Washington” on both a personal and professional level. “I feel like if Washington had a lot more Mike Gills, this town would work a lot better,” he said.

— In a statement over the weekend, Giancarlo echoed those sentiments, calling Gill “one of the most wonderful, honest, earnest and open hearted persons on this earth” whose life “reflects everything that is good and right and true.” He continued: “Words cannot express the tragedy of the loss of this fine man, colleague and cherished friend. He will be sorely missed and long remembered.”

— AIC’s Maloney said that he hopes Gill’s death will become a turning point in addressing surging violence across D.C. “It’s terrible, but hopefully something good can come of it in the sense that there can be some changes in the way we secure our city, and something good will come out of it so other people don’t have to suffer the same sort of pain,” he told PI, adding: “This is happening every day across our city.”

Happy Tuesday and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips: coprysko@politico.com. And be sure to follow me on the platform formerly known as Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.

A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:

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CORNERSTONE ADDS RNC CHIEF: The RNC’s chief of staff, Mike Reed, is stepping down from his role later this month, our Alex Isenstadt reports, and will join Cornerstone Government Affairs in the firm’s public affairs practice.

— “Two people familiar with Reed’s move say it has been in the works for around a year. They said he accepted his new job with Cornerstone, a government relations and public affairs firm, last fall but chose to remain at the RNC through the committee’s winter meeting last week in Las Vegas,” per Alex.

— “But the move also comes amid growing speculation that former President Donald Trump, the strong frontrunner for the Republican Party nomination, will push for a shakeup in leadership at the committee. And Reed himself acknowledged that timing element in his note to staffers.”

— Reed served as the RNC’s deputy chief of staff from 2021-2022, and before that was the party’s chief of staff for communications. He’ll join a former Democratic counterpart at Cornerstone, former DNC chief of staff Hyma Moore, who began working for the firm back in November.

MATTIS CONSULTED FOR UAE BEFORE BECOMING SECDEF: New documents obtained by The Washington Post reveal that former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis previously served as a military adviser to the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates on the country’s campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen’s civil war, which Mattis failed to disclose when he was nominated to lead the Pentagon by former President Donald Trump several years later.

— “In keeping with federal law, Mattis applied in June 2015 for permission from the Marines and the State Department to advise Mohamed and the UAE on ‘the operational, tactical, informational and ethical aspects’ of the war in Yemen, according to previously undisclosed documents obtained by The Washington Post through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit,” the Post’s Craig Whitlock and Nate Jones write.

— “His request was highly unusual: a legendary four-star Marine asking to work for a foreign head of state as a personal consultant about an ongoing war. Complicating matters, the U.S. military had become entangled in the conflict.”

— “Soon after the bombing started, the Obama administration agreed to support the Arab coalition’s air forces, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with aerial refueling and intelligence. But U.S. officials were growing alarmed by the number of innocent Yemenis dying in coalition airstrikes. Nonetheless, U.S. officials swiftly approved Mattis’s request. Then they fought to conceal his advisory role in the war in Yemen and his work” for Emirati Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

FLYING IN: The Energy Workforce & Technology Council kicked off a two-day fly-in today, bringing more than 40 members to town to meet with lawmakers on the Hill and members of the Biden administration. The trade group plans to push for permitting reform and discuss other bipartisan energy legislation, the impacts of the administration’s recent decision to pause new permits for LNG export facilities, supply chain issues and geopolitical conflicts.

— Members of the council are set to meet with members or staff from nearly four dozen offices, as well as officials from the Commerce, Energy and State departments and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

— Habitat for Humanity is also bringing around 450 staff, homeowners and others to the Hill this week to push for more money for HUD programs and to pass a bipartisan housing tax credit, Morning Money reports.

— And the Independent Bankers Association of Texas is in town this week as well to meet with Texas’ congressional delegation, acting OCC Comptroller Michael Hsu and House leadership to discuss new financial regulations like a recent anti-redlining rule that IBAT joined other industry groups in suing to block.

ANNALS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE: “Each year, thousands of Louisiana residents kick off carnival season at one of the state’s premiere annual political events, Washington Mardi Gras,” Lousiana Illuminator’s Julie O’Donoghue reports, featuring “a formal ball, industry group luncheons, panel discussions, fundraisers and plenty of parties thrown by the politically connected” and sponsored by “businesses the government regulates.”

— “Washington Mardi Gras costs thousands of dollars for an individual to attend, and people in public office dip into their campaign funds to help cover the cost. Their expenses include plane tickets, hotel stays, krewe dues, event tickets and formal attire.”

— “Louisiana elected officials and candidates spent a total of $594,200 from their campaign accounts and political action committees (PACs) on the 2023 celebration of D.C. Mardi Gras, according to a review of state and federal campaign finance reports by the Louisiana Illuminator. The documents include spending from July 2022 through June 2023.”

— “Slightly more than half of 2023 Washington Mardi Gras spending, $310,000, was from the eight members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The rest, $284,200, came from 56 state and local officials and candidates, including 34 state legislators,” with one of the biggest spenders last year being now-former Gov. John Bel Edwards.

— “U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy also spent around $64,800 and $63,000 respectively in 2023, according to a review of federal campaign finance records.”

CONGRESS OVERDRIVE: Since day one, POLITICO has been laser-focused on Capitol Hill, serving up the juiciest Congress coverage. Now, we’re upping our game to ensure you’re up to speed and in the know on every tasty morsel and newsy nugget from inside the Capitol Dome, around the clock. Wake up, read Playbook AM, get up to speed at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report, and fuel your nightly conversations with Inside Congress in the evening. Plus, never miss a beat with buzzy, real-time updates throughout the day via our Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

Jobs Report

— Evan Bender is now a director of government affairs with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. He previously served as district director for Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas).

— Jennifer Jacoby is joining Invariant as a senior director and financial services policy counsel. She was previously managing director, federal government affairs and associate general counsel at SIFMA and is a WilmerHale alum.

— Priscilla Muhlenkamp is now managing partner of the D.C. office of Fragomen. She most recently was a partner in the D.C. office. Former D.C. office head Andrew Greenfield is transitioning to senior counsel.

— Maddie Kirkland, Matt Nofsinger and Sterling Stavro have joined Convergence Media, Morning Score reports. Kirkland, who was most recently on Tim Scott’s presidential campaign, and Nofsinger, who was previously at Fabrizio, Lee, & Associates, are client strategy analysts. Stavro, previously at the Student World Impact Film Festival, is a production assistant. Jamie Vosseller was promoted to senior director of operations, and Wyly Walker was promoted to digital marketing director.

— Meghan Pensyl is rejoining BSA as director of policy, with a focus on AI and state AI policy, per Morning Tech. She returns to BSA from Twilio and had been at BSA immediately before that.

— Katie Allen has joined diabetes advocacy group JDRF as senior director of government relations. She was most recently vice president of federal affairs at AHIP and is a Michael Burgess alum.

— Clare James Johnson is joining the National Electrical Manufacturers Association as managing director of communications. She was previously a senior vice president at the cleantech and climate PR agency Silverline Communications.

— Ret. Gen. Stephen Lyons and Brent Young have joined WestExec Advisors as senior advisers. Lyons most recently served as the presidential special envoy for ports and supply chains, and Young was most recently vice president and head of global markets and China corporate strategy at Intel.

A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:

New Joint Fundraisers

Red Dawn RNC JFC (Colorado Republican Committee, Republican State Committee of Delaware, Georgia Republican Party Inc., Kansas Republican Party)

New PACs

Clear Choice PAC, Inc (Super PAC)

Concerned Citizens Against Casinos (Hybrid PAC)

Grab Them By The Ballot PAC (PAC)

Indian-Americans for Trump 2024 (Super PAC)

Protect Democracy Project (Leadership PAC: Julia Brownley)

New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

A10 Associates, LLC: Galactic Litigation Partners, LLC

Alpine Group Partners, LLC.: Calvary Hospital

Atlas Advocacy: The Lawfare Project

Breakthrough365 Government Relations Strategies: Controlled Environment Alliance

Breakthrough365 Government Relations Strategies: Texas Vegetable Association

Breakthrough365 Government Relations Strategies: Warehouses4Good

Bridge Public Affairs, LLC: Erlanger Health System

Capitol Advocacy Partners: Ceres, City Of

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Sierra Space Corporation

Government Relations Group, LLC: Athena Bitcoin

Government Relations Group, LLC: Curated Investments

Kadesh & Associates, LLC: Federal Home Loan Bank Of San Francisco

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Purifico Corp.

Skladany Consulting LLC: Kasich Company On Behalf Of Atx Networks

Smith Dawson & Andrews: Dealookup.Com, Inc.

Warwick Group Consultants, LLC: City Of Venice

Waverly Group: Northwest Hardwoods

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New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

501 Consultants: Columbia Basin Development League

501 Consultants: Washington Winegrowers Association

Brosch Trade LLC: Dutch Wholesalers Association For Flowerbulbs And Nurserystock Anthos

Chain Link Solutions LLC: Medela, LLC

Dmm Consulting LLC: Tether Operations Limited/ C/O Shrm Trustee (Bvi) Ltd Trinity Chambers

Duncan & Viehman Strategies: Trauma Care Overseas

Great State Strategies: Crypto World

Greystone Global Strategies LLC: Amsterdam Group Public Relations (For Techmet Limited)

Hj Tobin Policy Consulting: Family Equality

Jack Ferguson Assoc., Inc.: Sealaska Corporation

Jst Strategies LLC (Formerly Jochum Shore & Trossevin Pc): Broad Reach Power

Lillstrom Cheng Strategies: Private Practice Section Of Apta

Lkb Strategies LLC: Sl Strategies, LLC (On Behalf Of Biotechnology Innovation Organization)

Lkb Strategies LLC: Sl Strategies, LLC (On Behalf Of Coalition To Stop Flu)

Lkb Strategies LLC: Sl Strategies, LLC (On Behalf Of Organon & Co.)

Major Cities Chiefs Association: Major Cities Chiefs Association

Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Relx Inc.

Medela LLC: Medela LLC

Ms. Missy Branson: National Spinning, Inc.

Pendulum Strategies, LLC: Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Proventure Consultants LLC: Cerfe Labs

Rasky Partners, Inc.: Envirospark

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.: Renfro Corp.

Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Foundation, Inc.

Sl Strategies, LLC: Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Sl Strategies, LLC: Organon & Co

Somatus, Inc.: Somatus, Inc.

Watkins & Eager Pllc: Fleet Morris Petroleum, Inc.

Winn Strategies, LLC: Twin Logic Strategies On Behalf Of Zebra Technologies

A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:

CONGRESS: IT’S TIME TO DUMP THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL: Congress has a toxic relationship with card routing mandates. Despite over a decade of research showing that similar mandates for debit cards were a disaster for consumers, small businesses, and small financial institutions, corporate mega-stores are back and promising this time things will be “different.” But the truth is that the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill is a sweetheart giveaway to mega-corporations like Walmart and Target, while eliminating credit card rewards, weakening fraud protections, and reducing access to credit for low-income Americans. Congress: This Valentine’s Day, it’s time to break up with the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill and protect the value and security of America’s payments system. Click HERE to learn more.