Miller Wants to Bring 'Common Sense' to Congress
By Leigh Wills
As the founder of HonorAir, Jeff Miller has traveled to the nation’s capital more times than he can remember, escorting thousands of World War II veterans to see the memorial that was built to honor them. Miller is now hoping he will see even more of D.C. as a U.S. congressman.
Miller, a Hendersonville native whose family owns Miller’s Fine Drycleaning, threw his hat into the 11th Congressional District race this week, vying to become the Republican candidate who faces U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler in November. As a small businessman, Miller said Friday he is frustrated by the arrogance and divisiveness in Congress while he fights daily “to try and keep (my) head above water.”
Asked which three issues he would focus on as a congressman, Miller replied, “Jobs, jobs, jobs.” He noted that his business has slowed as more and more people lose their jobs and struggle to make ends meet.
He added, “We need jobs quick, balance the budget and get a good energy plan. I think those three things are critical. To me we have a moral obligation to get a good energy plan in place and cut down on this carbon, CO2s, that we’re pumping out. I mean that’s just common sense to me.”
Miller wants to work to create more fuel-efficient cars and fund alternative energy sources that will make the United States less reliant on foreign oil. He considers nuclear energy something worth studying.
“I’m very interested in knowing and learning more about nuclear and getting them on line. Yes, there have been some issues, but look at how few and nothing’s been opened since ’77. It is truly clean if you can control the other thing,” he said.
Asked about differences between himself and Shuler, Miller doesn’t like cap and trade as it is written now. He also opposes the Card Check bill, which would change the way unions are allowed to organize workers. “It takes away the guarantee of a secret ballot,” Miller said. “I don’t want anything to ever take away the guarantee of a secret ballot, either to bring a union in or to take a union out. Too much intimidation and things like that can be put in place and he supported that.”
Miller also said he would vote to remove Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house. “Her way of leadership I do not agree with,” he said.
As for his HonorAir work, Miller has turned to Mitzi Ellis of Greensboro to coordinate North Carolina’s Honor Flight program. He said this transition was in the works before his decision to run for Congress. But Miller says he’s not leaving the program, which to date has flown 40,000 veterans from across the country to Washington.
“The news came out that I was stepping back. If I’m going to run for Congress, I can’t also do this,” he said. “I’m never going to get out of it because it’s truly a passion. I wanted to see the state of North Carolina in good hands, and Mitzi and a guy named Jeff Sims will do a fabulous job.”
Miller and his wife, Tamara, have a son, Beck. In addition to HonorAir, Miller has a record of service in Henderson County, having served on boards and committees with Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Pardee Hospital, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation.
Miller’s campaign headquarters will be located at 214 North King St., Hendersonville. The campaign’s Web site is www.jeffmiller2010.com.
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