A Lansing-based GOP public relations/political consulting firm primarily representing entities controlled by Mike & Marian Ilitch or their casino syndication partner Michael J. Malik, Sr. has handled advertising and political consulting duties for Rep. Candice Miller’s (R-MI) last two re-election campaigns at a fraction of the costs her campaign paid for the same services the first time she was elected to the House of Representatives (2002).
CANDICE S. MILLER (R-MI)
Expenditures
2002 Election Cycle
| Recipient | Amount | Date | Description |
| William Eisner Associates, Inc. Hales Corners, WI | $952,058 | 2002 | Radio/Cable TV Commercials |
2003-2004 Re-election Cycle
| Recipient | Amount | Date | Description |
| $94,419 | 9/29/2004 | CAMPAIGN RADIO BUY | |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI | $18,995 | 10/4/2004 | CAMPAIGN RADIO BUY |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI | $15,000 | 10/19/2004 | RADIO ADDS |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI | $1,925 | 11/9/2004 | MILLER & VIVIANO ADDS |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc., Lansing, MI | $340 | 10/20/2004 | MILLER ADS |
|
| $130,679 | (14%) | |
2005-2006 Re-election Cycle
| Recipient | Amount | Date | Description |
| $177,230 | 9/9/2006 | CAMPAIGN RADIO AD BUY | |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc, Lansing, MI | $1,070 | 11/6/2006 | RADIO ADS |
| Marketing Resource Group, Inc, Lansing, MI | $352 | 10/27/2006 | DESIGN Svcs/Production |
|
| $178,652 | (19%) | |
Background
Tom Shields’ Marketing Resource Group, Inc. does a substantial percentage of business with entities owned or controlled by Mike Ilitch and Marian Ilitch, and also Michael J. Malik Sr. (MRG Client List). He represents nearly all the Indian Tribes and casinos in which Ilitch/Malik have interests. He frequently provides pro bono or discounted services to community groups and those who can help him advance his clients’ agenda.
In her first race (2002) for Congress, then-Michigan Secretary of State Candice Miller paid close to $1 million for advertising and consulting to William Eisner Associates, Inc. Records do not indicate MRG or Shields were part of her first Congressional Campaign. The first campaign was not supported in any significant financial way by the Ilitch Family or Malik.
Miller pushes Ilitch/Malik backed Casino
Then on February 13, 2003, freshman Rep. Miller introduced a bill, H.R. 831, to push approvals for a Port Huron Indian casino through Congress. The casino proposal has been backed by Detroit casino syndicators Malik and Mrs. Marian Ilitch for nearly a decade. They have a core team of lawyers and public relations people that work with them on these various projects, among them are Dykema Gossett PLLC (Lansing & Detroit) and Marketing Resource Group, Inc. (Lansing).
Ilitch/Malik contribute $75,000 to Miller
March 11, 2003 the Ilitch Family, Malik, Shields and several associates contribute $25,500 to Rep. Miller’s campaign committee making 3/11/03 the second biggest fundraising day of Miller’s first two year term in Congress. By the end of 2006, Federal Election Commission records indicate the Ilitch Family and Malik alone had contributed $75,000 to Rep. Miller’s committees.
Ilitch PR Boss takes over Miller campaign duties
When it came time to seek re-election to Congress in 2004 & 2006, Rep. Miller apparently abandoned the advertising and political consulting firm that helped elect her to a first term in Congress and began working with the same firm behind many Ilitch ventures, Marketing Resource Group, Inc., a firm founded by Tom Shields. Shields is often spokesman for the Ilitch Family and their various business affiliates and Indian tribe partners. Shields’ firm charged Rep. Miller a fraction of the costs her campaign spent in 2002.
It is unclear whether or not Shields/Marketing Resource Group was compensated for creative, consulting and management services to Rep. Miller’s campaign or if the work was done free of charge for Miller. Perhaps Shields’ services to Rep Miller were “free” or at greatly discounted costs because it appears that MRG only billed Miller’s campaign for the actual costs of purchasing the air time for advertising.
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