Bert Miller

Bertram "Bert" Miller is a writer, film producer and a former member of the Birmingham City Council. He represented District 7 from 2001 to 2005.

MIller holds an associates degree in business education from Lawson State Community College and a bachelor of science in military science from Mississippi Valley State University. He was involved for nine years with Birmingham City Schools community education programs. He was working as a waiter at Dreamland Bar-B-Q in Southside when he was elected to the City Council in 2001, using the slogan "It's Miller Time!".

During his council tenure, Miller earned the nickname "The Money Man" for giving funds to residents to help with utility bills. From time to time he drew names from a fishbowl or held public events to distribute cash. He was also active in the Birmingham Film Commission, which was created in 2003 and nominally expanded in 2004, soon after which it apparently fell into limbo.

In 2004 he declared personal bankruptcy. In 2005 the city's internal audit and compliance director recommended that he be investigated by the State Ethics Commission after it was discovered that $25,000 approved by the council to support a concert and workshops by Teen Rock International that never took place.

During the 2005 Birmingham City Council election an automated dialing system operated by the Stuart Consulting Group out of Metairie, Lousiana was used to telephone residents of Birmingham City Council District 3, where Chris Hartsell was challenging incumbent Valerie Abbott. The recording was an endorsement of Abbott by Miller and the caller ID displayed Abbott's home telephone number. Hartsell has been associated with Stuart Consulting in his later role as Mayor Larry Langford's chief of operations.

Miller was the host of "Off the Hook", a public access radio and television program aimed at teenagers. He has also written and produced several dramas intended to address social issues. "High Five" concerns drug use and athletes, "Take Time" addresses adolescent concerns, and "Unconditional Love" involves the life of a person affected by Down syndrome. In 2008 Miller wrote and produced a play entitled "This is Real" which included an educational message about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. In 2009 he wrote and began producing a film entitled "She's Got Next" about an autistic girl who helps her father win poker games.

References

• Godbey, Paul (September 21, 2004) "Interview with David Ricker, Birmingham Film Commission member" Reelscene News
• Pelfrey, David (August 11, 2005) "Dead City Diary" column. Black & White
• Whitmire, Kyle (February 19, 2008) "Langford consultant has tricky ties, and also an address at the Pita Stop building." Birmingham Weekly
• Folasade, John (June 28, 2008) "Play opening in Birmingham on Saturday to highlight dangers of HIV and AIDS." Birmingham News
• Carlton, Bob (February 20, 2009) "Birmingham Film Needs Actors, Extras." Birmingham News