Miller, Emilie F.

Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to 1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the vote. In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators. During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI) controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice, calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the school was publicly funded. Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane H. Woods.

From the description of Emilie F. Miller papers, 1987-1991. (George Mason University). WorldCat record id: 496005016

Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to 1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the vote.

During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and woman's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator.

In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.

During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.

Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI) controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice, calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced legislation providing that "all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation."

In addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation included the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill; the development of alternative levels of care for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.

Among her other achievements during her term included a public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information and attend public government business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.

While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.

Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane H. Woods.

From the guide to the Emilie F. Miller papers, 1987-1991, (George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.)