Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Stuart James said the Rev. Bernie Miller told him he was running for the County Commission as a Democrat, then he made a last-minute switch to Republican.

Rev. Miller denied he ever told Mr. James he was running for the District 5 seat as a Democrat.

Mr. James said Rev. Miller was introduced to a large crowd at the Democrats' Kefauver Dinner as a Democratic candidate for commissioner.

Rev. Miller said he only went to the dinner because he was invited, and he said he was surprised to find himself at the table of Sen. Ward Crutchfield.

Mr. James said, "Mr. Miller called me about two weeks before the Kefauver and said he was seeking the Democratic nomination for District 5. I congratulated him, and told him that under the circumstances I could not endorse either he or Commissioner Beck.

"I also told him that I would post his announcement for his candidacy on the hamdems.org website. He asked that I wait until his official announcement. I, thereafter, told him I would make the posting when he announced. I told him I would attend his official announcement, and that I would also attend Commissioner Beck’s official announcement. I told him I would do everything in my power to insure that he and Commissioner Beck would have a high voter turnout to choose the Democratic nominee.

"Mr. Miller was then invited by Sen. Ward Crutchfield to attend the Kefauver Dinner. Mr. Miller sat at the senator’s table. During the dinner I asked him if he wanted us to announce his candidacy, and after a brief discussion, we agreed we would announce his candidacy as a Democratic candidate for District 5. There were 534 people who heard the announcement.

"Then, on WDOD I asked him about these series of events. I asked why he declared as a Republican, and his response is his decision was swayed by Walter Williams, who encouraged him to run as an independent. Mr. Miller also stated community leaders wanted him to run as a Republican, because the Democratic Party was not active in the community, and did not provide money to candidates or to the community. I asked him if he expected money from the Republicans, and he responded no. He never articulated a sound reason for his change, or for his action with me both before and during the Kefauver Dinner. The community leaders were unnamed.

"As chair of the party, I must say that Mr. Miller’s actions appear to be a deliberate misrepresentation to the party, and to 534 Democrats at the Kefauver Dinner — he stated and represented he was running as a Democrat. As a party we feel he used the Kefauver as an opportunity to get his name “out in the public.”

"I am disappointed in his actions, and his actions show that he will 'blow with the political wind' and he obviously does not have the decisive leadership needed for the commission. He has offered no reasonable explanations for his actions, and the party will work hard to insure that an ethical, well qualified candidate wins the District 5 Seat.

"As of today, Commissioner Beck is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for that seat. This race is targeted, and we believe that we can defeat Mr. Miller in the August election.”

Rev. Miller said, "I attended the dinner because I told a prominent Democrat that in the last 15 years, I had never been invited to a Democratic function. So, they sent me an invitation.

"I told Sen. Crutchfield about the invite and he said that he would get me a free ticket. I had no idea that I would be his personal guest at his table.

"I attended the Kefauver Dinner as a guest of Sen. Ward Crutchfield. During the event, Stuart James approached me and discussed my possible candidacy for the District 5 seat on the Hamilton County Commission.

"From the beginning, Mr. James assumed that I was running as a Democrat without ever asking me. At no time during this or other conversations with him was I ever asked if I was planning to run as a Democrat or a Republican. He was so eager to put my name on their website and I told him not to. He said that he had not heard any negative comments about me and said that was unusual given the position he holds.
As I discussed my possible candidacy with my family and key supporters, I made my decision to run as a Republican on Monday, Nov. 21, at 9:55 am. If you check my treasurer's papers, you'll notice that I didn't put any party down.

"Some community leaders have asked me to run as an independent, but that is not who I am. What party someone belongs to will not be an issue in this election because the people of District 5 are looking for someone to lead and serve, not a political party.

"Many of my Democratic supporters have told me that my party affiliation should not matter. What matters is who the person is and his core beliefs. I believe my track record and work in the community clearly show my leadership skills and vision for District 5.

"I look forward to speaking with more District 5 residents about how I can better represent their views and opinions in county government.
As far as being indecisive is concerned, I made the decision to lead the pact to help the Katrina victims before FEMA and HUD responded in our area. For which, the CHA recently received a national award from HUD."