Mike Sommers

Sommers now serves as president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based American Investment Council, which represents private equity and growth capital firms. Under Sommers, the group played a major role fighting successfully to preserve the carried interest tax rule that benefits some hedge fund managers. But most of his career has been tied to Boehner, the former House speaker, beginning with an internship in the Ohio Republican’s office. Sommers, a graduate of Miami University in Ohio, eventually became Boehner’s chief of staff -- and a chief strategist -- during bruising congressional fights with the Obama administration over spending. He also briefly served as special assistant to former President George W. Bush. Through his role on the National Economic Council, Sommers advised Bush on agriculture, trade and food policy. Jill Sommers, his wife, is a former member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.