Michael Quinn Sullivan
| Michael Quinn Sullivan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Michael Quinn Sullivan January 4, 1970[1] Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Residence | Lewisville, Texas[2] |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Occupation | Journalist, political activist |
| Organization | Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Nicolle Sullivan |
| Children | 3 |
| Website |
www |
Michael Quinn Sullivan (born January 4, 1970) is the president of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility,[3] non-profit organizations based in Austin, Texas. Sullivan has been called the most powerful nonelected political figure in Texas.[4]
Early life
Growing up the son of a football coach and homemaker, Sullivan moved frequently around the state. He graduated in 1988 from Sherman High School in Sherman, Texas, and thereafter from Texas A&M University in College Station. In college, he was in the TAMU Corps of Cadets, the College Republicans, and wrote for The Battalion.[5]
Though a member of the TAMU Corps of Cadets, Sullivan did not take a military commission after graduation.[1] He was commissioned as an officer in the Texas State Guard.[6]
Career
Sullivan began his career as a reporter for two daily Texas newspapers, the Denison Herald in Denison (now known as The Herald Democrat) 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.[5]
In 1995, he left print journalism to serve as press secretary for Republican congressional candidate Ron Paul. After Paul's successful election in 1996, Sullivan moved to Washington, D.C., to work in Paul's Capitol office.[5]
Sullivan left Paul's office in 1999 to join the staff of the Media Research Center.[1] There, he developed and refined communications training programs while he oversaw the organization's Conservative Communications Center public relations activities.
In 2001, Sullivan joined the staff of the Texas Public Policy Foundation in Austin. There he handled media and government affairs. He also served as the organization's vice president.[7]
In 2006, Sullivan became the founding president of Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.[8]
As president of the organization, Sullivan has endorsed primarily in Republican races and has gained notoriety for supporting conservative challengers over the "GOP establishment."[4] In a Dallas Morning News profile, editorial writer Mike Hashimoto wrote that "Sullivan has gone from Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets to regular choice on in-the-know 'most influential' lists. His groups’ endorsements tend to steer directly to the political right of the establishment norm."[9]
He was a founding contributor to Breitbart Texas, a part of Breitbart.com News.[10] He also maintains a diary on the conservative blog RedState.[11]
A 2012 poll of Republican primary voters commissioned by the liberal Burnt Orange Report found that 83% consider the endorsement of Sullivan's group "Very Important" or "Quite Important."[12]
Media attention
A Fort Worth Star-Telegram 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.”[13]
In 2010, Campaigns and Elections magazine listed Sullivan as one of the "Fifty Most Influential Republicans in Texas".[14]
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."[15]
In 2014, Sullivan was a finalist for "Texan of the Year", as determined by the Dallas Morning News.[4]
Publications
As a writer, Sullivan's commentaries have appeared in publications such as the Houston Chronicle, 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.
In February 2014, Breitbart.com announced that Sullivan would be a contributor to their Breitbart Texas vertical news site.[16]
Personal
He is an Eagle Scout.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 Tribpedia:Michael Quinn Sullivan, Texas Tribune
- ↑ Saleh Rauf, David (January 22, 2015). "Ethics Commission: No 'indication' MQS resides in Denton County". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ↑ "Michael Quinn Sullivan Gets His Conservative Message Delivered and Heard". The New York Times, February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Texan of the Year finalist: Michael Quinn Sullivan". Dallas Morning News. December 23, 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Primary Targets, Texas Monthly, January 2013
- ↑ Texas State Guard at 70, Texas Insider, February 10, 2011
- ↑ Sullivan Promoted to Vice President, Texas Public Policy Foundation
- ↑ Michael Quinn Sullivan, Empower Texans
- ↑ Q&A: Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans, Dallas Morning News
- ↑ McKinley, Kathleen (February 16, 2014). "Are You Ready For 'Breitbart Texas?". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ↑ RedState Diary, RedState.com
- ↑ BOR POLL: Republican Primary Voters Support Right-Wing Anti-Government Perspective, Burnt Orange Report
- ↑ Norman, Mike (2009), Michael Quinn Sullivan slays taxpayer dragons in Austin, Fort Worth Star Telegram, archived from the original on August 29, 2008
- ↑ Selby, Gardner (2009), Texas Influencers (PDF), Campaigns & Elections
- ↑ Power Company, Texas Monthly, 2011
- ↑ BREITBART NEWS LAUNCHES 'BREITBART LONDON' & 'BREITBART TEXAS' VERTICALS, Breitbart.com