Second in a series of profiles of candidates in the 6th Congressional District, which runs along the northern east coast of Florida.
Craig Miller likes his position in the geopolitics of the new 6th Congressional District.
The first Republican to officially enter the race, Miller has an established residence in Winter Park, outside CD 6. But the former restaurant-industry executive has long maintained a home in the Volusia County town of New Smyrna Beach and has extensive business connections in the district.
The GOP race for the open seat got more crowded this week when Bev Slough, St. Johns County School Board president, jumped in. Slough is the third candidate -- along with Ron DeSantis and Richard Clark -- hailing from the north end of the 120 mile-long district.
At the south end sits Miller and, potentially, Ormond Beach resident Fred Costello, who has not yet formally filed. If Costello opts out -- he says he'll decide by April 15 -- Miller would have the home field advantage in Volusia County, the largest population center in the district.
With very few political differences in the GOP field, geography may count for a lot. If the other candidates split the vote in St. Johns and Flagler counties, Miller could lock up the solid south and win the nomination.
Miller isn't sitting around to map his fate, however. Touting his experience as a "job creator," the businessman says he can help a district that's been hit hard by unemployment.
"There are no other true job creators in this race. I bring a businessman's Main Street view," Miller said in an interview with Sunshine State News.
As chairman of the National Restaurant Association from 2005-2006, Miller feels at home in the coastal district heavily dependent on hospitality, dining and tourism.
The Vietnam War combat veteran also says he can closely relate to the 100,000-plus veterans who live in CD 6.
Miller, who lost his first congressional bid to Sandy Adams in 2010 and dropped a run for U.S. Senate earlier this year, praises tea party freshmen for making a "marked impact" on Capitol Hill.
"I'd like to go to Washington, D.C., and reinforce that conservative view. I want to influence the new view that the status quo is not acceptable, regardless of party," he said.
Miller said his 20-year tenure as a restaurant-industry executive gives him clear insights into the problems festering at the hand of the federal government.
"Being an employee-driven, labor-intensive business, the industry exposed me to a whole range of issues that affect our economy -- entitlement programs, regulations, immigration, health care. I educated myself as to how dysfunctional Washington is," he said.
Calling CD 6 a "donor district," Miller said the region "hasn't gotten the financial resources to match the tax revenue that leaves the district." He vows to fight for a fair share.
Adam Berringer, mayor of New Smyrna Beach, is among Miller's first political endorsers, but Republican Party officials are staying neutral, at least publicly.
That doesn't mean there aren't geographic favorites, though.
Volusia State Committeeman Robert Fortner calls Miller "incredibly capable" while describing Costello, another fellow Volusian, as a "superb" [former] mayor and state representative.
"Both are fine, upstanding men and entrepreneurs," said Fortner, who offered no comparable compliments to the contingent of northern candidates.
Citing the district's bipolarity, low population density and fractured media market, Miller says fundraising will be a challenge.
"Still, we raised $100,000 in the first quarter," he reported, adding that grassroots campaigning, mailers and radio will probably take precedence over TV ads.
The first part of this series, "Fred Costello: GOP 'Free Agent' Seeks Seat in CD 6," can be found here.
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
