While businessman Craig Miller came up short in his congressional bid in 2010, the Central Florida resident and former CEO of Ruths Chris Steak House shows no signs of heading to the political sidelines anytime soon. He is eying a run for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.
Miller told Sunshine State News Wednesday that he remains open to entering the race.
"One of the most important decisions that citizens of the state of Florida will make in 2012 is what type of U.S. senator they want to represent them in Washington, D.C., said Miller. The choices they have to currently pick from are all classic career politicians from both parties who have made a living serving in Tallahassee or Washington, D.C. They have all taken large sums of money from special interest groups, some for decades.
"Although that is seen as business-as-usual among career politicians, it does not mean that the citizens and voters of our great state will choose from that group, especially if there is an alternative citizen statesman running who will watch out for their interests. If I enter the race, it will be out of my sense of wanting to influence the direction of our country and provide voters an alternative.
Miller took aim at Nelson and attempted to link him to President Barack Obama.
We know who the Democratic nominee will be and what kind of senator he will be based on his past voting record, said Miller. It is crystal clear that if we send him back to Washington, where he first appeared in Congress back in 1978, he will vote the Democratic liberal agenda and neuter every effort and vote of our junior senator and the will of the majority of Floridians.
Miller added that the U.S. Senate race in Florida has major national implications.
Maintaining our majority in Congress in 2012 is critical and recapturing a majority in the Senate is equally important, said Miller. We need a strong conservative candidate who will stand up to the Obama-Nelson agenda and I believe I can be that senator."
Sources close to Miller told Sunshine State News on Wednesday that he will be testing the waters in the next eight to 10 weeks as he ponders running in a crowded primary. The primary field already includes former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner and businessman and retired army officer Mike McCalister, who took more than 10 percent in the Republican gubernatorial primary back in 2010.
Miller will be heading across the state and up to Washington as he ponders whether to enter the Senate race and will be gauging the support for the other Republican candidates. The sources maintain that there is no time line in place for Miller to make a decision on whether to enter the race, which Miller confirmed Wednesday.
Miller said there are a number of factors in making his decision.
"My decision to enter this race will depend on personal, business and political factors, he said. I feel absolutely no pressure to make a decision before midsummer. Unlike some candidates, I am not seeking millions from Tallahassee's lobbyists, nor do I feel it necessary to prove today that I can raise the money.Most importantly, I want to take the appropriate time to get a sense from the citizens of Florida if they want an alternative candidate, a non-career politician not bought and paid for by Washington and Tallahassee lobbyists, as their next U.S. senator. I know I can be that alternative.
According to sources, Miller is also leaving the door open to making another bid for Congress.
Miller ran in the Republican primary last year to take on then-U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas for her Central Florida congressional seat. Then-state Rep. Sandy Adams, who would eventually beat Kosmas in the general election, won the primary with 30 percent. Former Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel placed second with 29 percent and Miller came in third with 28 percent.
Diebel has already filed to run again in 2012 and is waiting for the Legislature to finish the redistricting process to see which congressional seat she will target. Miller is also keeping his eye on redistricting, seeing how Central Florida --which is expected to gain an additional congressional seat --is impacted.
Whether he joins the Republican primary to take on Nelson or makes a second bid for Congress, Miller does not sound like a man headed to the sidelines.
My 40-year business career and positions of leadership give me confidence that I have something to offer," he said.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
