[link:https://www.mystatesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/sid-miller-put-doctor-with-revoked-licenses-rural-health-panel/HrhVMVDYxSXl8A7GZo2a7M/|Sid Miller put ex-doctor with 2 revoked licenses on rural health panel
state-government]

By Sean Collins Walsh - American-Statesman Staff

Posted: 8:37 p.m. Friday, April 06, 2018

Highlights

• Ag Commissioner Sid Miller appointed an ex-physician with a checkered past to the Rural Health Task Force.

• Rick Redalen has pleaded guilty to assault and perjury and had his medical license suspended in three states.

• Redalen has used the position to advocate for telemedicine, a service that one of his companies offers.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in late 2016 appointed to the state’s Rural Health Task Force a former physician and Miller campaign donor who had his medical license revoked or suspended in three states.

In Iowa, Rick Ray Redalen’s medical license was first suspended when he was convicted of perjury in a case involving his marriage to his 15-year-old former stepdaughter. The license was later revoked for good for failure to report a malpractice suit, medical board records show.

Redalen, who calls himself “the Maverick Doctor,” said he was introduced to Miller several years ago by Todd M. Smith, a lobbyist who has reported making hundreds of thousands of dollars from Redalen’s company and is Miller’s longtime political strategist.

Redalen, who donated heavily to Miller’s campaign months before his appointment, said he has used the unpaid task force position to advocate for expanded access to telemedicine — a service offered by one of his companies. Redalen said he never expected any favors in exchange for his contributions to Miller.