Derek E Miller

Background

Miller has been an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Macomb County. He has served as a trial attorney for the Prosecutor's Office in both Circuit and District Courts. He also held a position in the Senior Crimes Unit, which specializes in prosecuting criminals who prey on the elderly. He also served as his office's liaison to Warren and Center Line's Drug Court and has served on the Roseville 39th District Sobriety Court. Prior to his career in law enforcement, Miller worked as a sole proprietor attorney. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Michigan State University and Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

He was born and raised in Warren, where he graduated from Cousino High School and continues to make his birth city and state of Michigan home.

Political career

After serving for four years in the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office Miller sought to succeed term-limited state Rep. Jon Switalski in the Michigan House of Representatives. Miller won the Democratic nomination uncontested and won the general election with ease, defeating Republican Beth Foster, taking 64 percent of the vote.

On December 5, 2015, Macomb County Treasurer Ted Wahby died at the age of 84, after being elected five times as treasurer and serving since 1995. After an extended search, Miller was appointed Macomb County Treasurer on January 29, 2016. Miller was sworn in as treasurer by Associate Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court David Viviano and formally resigned his seat in the state legislature on February 1, 2016. Miller won the Democratic nomination uncontested for a full-term on August 2, and was slated to face Republican Larry Rocca in the general election.

Miller was narrowly upset by Rocca in his bid for a full term, in what many believe was on the coattails of Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump garnered 54 percent of the vote in Macomb County, which also Republicans Candice Miller and Karen Spangler win countywide races as Public Works Commissioner and County Clerk respectively and Trump became the first Republican to carry Michigan in a presidential election since 1988. Following the expiration of his term as County Treasurer, Miller will return to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office as an assistant prosecutor.

Family connections

His grandfather, Art Miller, became the first mayor of the city of Warren in 1957. His grandmother, Edna Miller, was the first woman elected Macomb County Clerk and served for over 28 years. Derek’s father, Art Miller Jr., served in the Michigan Senate from 1977-2003, where he was the Democratic Leader of the Senate. He sponsored and directed over 300 pieces of legislation during his 25 years of Senate leadership.