Restaurant executive Craig Miller announced Monday he is dropping out of the crowded Republican primary looking to take on Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November to run for Congress.
The district that Miller is targeting -- as it stands now in the fluid redistricting process -- stretches on the Atlantic coast, south of Jacksonville, to include parts of Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. While the Legislature has not finished the redistricting process -- and many expect the courts to have their say on the final lines -- a large part of the proposed district has been represented by U.S. Rep. John Mica, the Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee, who was first elected in the 1992 election cycle.
I want to thank the thousands of Floridians that I have met and encouraged me over the past seven months, Miller said in a statement released on Monday. There are several very qualified candidates in the U.S. Senate race to represent our party, some with more name recognition and resources than our campaign. Therefore, I have chosen to shift my focus to serving the people of the new Coastal District.
Miller did not endorse any of the remaining Republican hopefuls in the race. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack leads the other Republican candidates, ahead of former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner and retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister. Miller has struggled in the polls, usually pulling below 5 percent when matched up against the rest of the GOP field.
Having grown up on the Intracoastal Waterway and having spent a lifetime working in the hospitality and tourism industry, including opening and operating businesses in Volusia and St. John counties, this new district offers me a unique opportunity to serve, added Miller, who ran for Congress in 2010. Volusia County Republican primary voters honored me with a majority of their votes in 2010. They recognize my hospitality background, having created over 40,000 jobs, along with my fiscal and social conservative values, were what they wanted in Washington. My volunteer combat service, as a Vietnam veteran, also provides me the opportunity to serve the over 100,000 veterans in our new district. Susan and I will be residing in Ormond Beach as we travel the district, anxious to meet, listen and learn from its citizens.
One of Millers chief campaign tactics has been to take a page out of Bob Grahams playbook and hold workday events which he has dubbed Miller on Main Street. Graham held workday events during his decades as governor and as a U.S. senator. Some of Millers workday events have been in the area, including working at a Winn Dixie in St. Johns County, a motorcycle shop in Daytona Beach and former Florida Sen. Carey Bakers gun shop in Mount Dora. Miller said on Monday that his next workday would also be in Daytona.
It is my intent to continue my Miller on Main Street workday program, starting on Wednesday, working at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club in Daytona Beach, Miller said.
Miller stressed his conservative credentials as he refocused his campaign efforts.
I am proud to be the only fiscal and social conservative to announce my candidacy to represent this new district, and applaud the state Legislature for recognizing the importance of the economic and demographic differences that link the Coastal Region from the more urban Orlando area, Miller said. It is long overdue that this vital historic region is represented in Congress by a champion for its needs and opportunities. My conversation with thousands of Floridians has made me convinced they are looking for new leadership and a clear option to the out-of-touch, career, and big-spending politicians. I want to be an experienced advocate for the citizens of the new Coastal District, not a politician that represents special interests and lobbyists.
Miller, the former CEO of Ruths Chris and Uno Restaurants, has endorsed former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Tuesdays Republican presidential primary. Fellow restaurant executive Herman Cain, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination and won the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando back in September, endorsed Miller in the Senate race earlier in the month.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
