Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Eric Miller threw in his hat for the 2004 governor's race this spring, and he's been gaining momentum ever since.
Speaking at a Ramada Plaza Hotel luncheon in Warsaw Tuesday, a gathering organized by First Source Bank's John Elliott, Miller said, "I'm not running against Joe Kernan, I'm running to be the governor of the state of Indiana."
Advance America, his grassroots, pro-family, pro-business, pro-tax reform organization, has added 1,000 families (25,000) and 1,000 churches (3,800) to its list of supporters since spring.
The conservative organization Miller has headed for 21 years began with 10 people.
The group's volunteers register people to vote and go to polling places on election days, distributing more than 900,000 "voter guides." The guides show the candidates' voting records so people have an informed choice when casting a ballot.
Miller said Advance America is what people are looking for because they're fed up with the way things are going.
"Indiana is No. 1 in the loss of jobs, personal bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosures," he said. "We're 50th in the nation in job creation. That's going in the wrong direction."
Referring to a recent study showing voter turnout is low because of negative campaigning, Miller said he intends to travel the state in the next two years and listen to people - a continuation of the work he has done the last two decades. He won't run a negative campaign, he said.
As executive director of Advance America, Miller lobbies for conservative legislation in Indianapolis.
Miller is endorsed locally by State Sen. Kent Adams and State Rep. David Wolkins. Both men attended yesterday's lunch meeting. Miller's campaign chairman is ex-Gov. Otis Bowen, who has come out of retirement to work for Miller.
The Hendricks County resident said he intends to travel the state for the next two years and get to know people.
"I will bring together minorities, black leaders, Hispanics, people disenchanted with the way things are going, like no other Republican candidate ever has," he said. "We've got to convince people they can make a difference."
Banking on his name recognition - he broadcasts a weekday program on 50 radio stations - Miller hopes the other GOP hopefuls clear the field for the 2004 primary and allow him to run directly against Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan, expected to be the Democratic candidate for governor.
Miller said the obstacles he faces are voter apathy ("150,000 votes can win the election") and the ability of the Democrats to raise huge amounts of money through the power of the incumbency.
As governor, he said, he would hold spending at 1 percent per year, saying in the last six years spending at the state level has increased 45 percent.
"There has never been an independent audit of gambling money - hundreds of millions of dollars.
"People ask where our $2 billion surplus went," he said. "$45 million was used when O'Bannon dropped the gas tax. The rest has gone to outside consultants. Lt. Gov. Kernan hired a Michigan firm at a cost of $250,000 to say we needed economic development. As the Department of Commerce's director, job creation is the lieutenant governor's responsibility.
"Indiana can lead the nation in creation of jobs and in education."
Wolkins said he has never supported anyone in his 14 years as a legislator.
"My support and a dime will get you ..." he said, not finishing the statement, but he changed his mind after meeting Miller.
"When Eric says he is going to do something, he does it. He knows the issues and he doesn't lose the issues," Wolkins said.
Adams, too, was enthusiastic in his support.
"Eric is someone who can relate to people. He's not independently wealthy. What you see is what you get," the state senator said.
"You're going to see a campaign like you've not seen in Indiana. He knows the issues and he's right on the issues."
Miller promised, as governor, to criss-cross the country and invite people to Indiana.
Elliot said Miller's conservative record stands for itself.
He asked his guests to get involved.
"Support someone who has principals," he said. "Take [the Advance America] folders and talk to your neighbors. Give Eric some backup here."
Miller is single, divorced since 1976. He is a volunteer for the Marion County Juvenile Court, Boy Scouts of America, Urban Foundation, Care Center and Eagledale Baptist Church. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Business in 1976 and from Rushville High School in 1968. He served in the Indiana National Guard from 1970 to 1974 and the U.S. Army Reserve from 1974 -1976.
For more information, write Hoosiers For Eric Miller, 101 W. Ohio St., Suite 204, Indianapolis IN 46204, 866-259-2004. On the Net: EricMiller2004.com
