Steps Aside As Caucus Chairman
posted January 10, 2006
Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Jeff Miller, of Cleveland, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to represent the 9th Senate District in the state Senate seat which he has held since 1994. He also announced that he will step aside as Caucus Chairman for the greater good of the Senate Majority Caucus.
“I will not be seeking a fourth term as the state Senator for the 9th District. Family and friends have known since the end of session of my decision not to seek re-election,” stated Sen. Miller.
He earlier said he took money from lobbyist Charles Love in the Tennessee Waltz sting, but considered it as a campaign contribution. A federal Grand Jury recently called several witnesses connected to his office. He has not been charged in the FBI sting.
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman said, “Sen. Miller made a personal decision to step down and we respect it. Unfortunately, we’ve seen casualties on both sides of the political fence as a result of these ethics problems. At this point, I think most Tennesseans agree we would be best served to set aside the partisan bickering and move ahead with swift passage of a responsible, comprehensive ethics bill. Hopefully, the other side is ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work in a nonpartisan fashion.”
Stuart James, chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, said, "Since becoming chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, I have been faced with many issues, including fallout from the Tennessee Waltz. I firmly believe in the concept of innocent until proven guilty. I also believe that it is important for public figures to act ethically and responsibly — they must place the public good above personal gain. We need to move on with acting for the good of the public, demanding our public leaders to act in the best interest of everyone who lives in our great state. I encourage all of our elected leaders to act in the best interests of the voters.
"I do not know if Sen. Miller’s resignation has anything to do with potential charges against him, but I encourage the Republicans to work with Democrats in a non-partisan matter passing meaningful ethics reform restoring confidence and public trust in our government and in our leaders.”
Sen. Miller said, “I believe that our state and the 9th Senate District have seen many improvements since I first took office in 1994. I am proud to have served the people of our district in the Senate and am honored that the voters entrusted me with the opportunity to represent them for these three terms.
“I make the announcement that I will not be seeking re-election at this time in order to give all those who may want to consider a run for this office a fair chance to get organized, to ramp up their campaigns, and to start raising the funds necessary to run competitive races.
“I have very much enjoyed serving the people of the 9th Senate District. However, the role of citizen-legislator has greatly changed over the last decade. The Legislature is quickly becoming a full-time operation with a year-round schedule. The time demands and constraints that the Legislature places on elected officials has become enormous for those with families and for those of us who have to make a living in another profession.
“At this time, I want to focus my energy on preparing for my three beautiful daughters to attend college in the coming years,” continued Sen. Miller.
“I have also decided to step aside as Caucus Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus,” stated Chairman Miller. “My decision was based on what is best for the entire Caucus. It would be selfish on my part to try to stay on as chairman under the present circumstances. I am stepping aside because, since I am not running, I will not be engaged in the political season raising money and helping to elect Republicans to increase our majority. I am proud of the fact that I have raised an all-time high for the caucus during my tenure.
“It was a real honor and privilege to have been elected by my peers to serve as their Caucus Chairman for the 104th General Assembly.
“The actions I am taking are in the best interests of our Caucus because the Caucus is bigger than any single individual. The ideas and ideals of our Caucus are larger than any particular personality and the Caucus deserves all of the energies of its leaders to advance those ideas and ideals. The Caucus will also need to raise additional money once session is over so that the ideas and ideals of our Caucus are fairly presented during the next round of elections.
“I feel very good about the accomplishments legislatively we have made while I served as Caucus Chairman – about bills we were able to pass into law and about bills we were able to block and keep from becoming law,” continued Sen. Miller.
“Leadership positions demand extra time for extra meetings and take even more time away from family and other career responsibilities.”
He said in a press release that recent Miller-sponsored legislation that has become law includes the Drug Dealer Liability Act which holds drug dealers financially accountable for the injuries they cause to others. It also includes his White Water Rafting Responsibility Act which seeks to instill common sense into the law to protect a vital job-producing industry in East Tennessee which was facing escalating threats from frivolous lawsuits. Sen. Miller also was a prime sponsor of a Good Samaritan Bill which now allows licensed healthcare professionals to offer free services without fear of civil liability.
He said he "has long been an advocate for tough litter laws and other environmentally friendly legislation to keep the environment and highways safe and clean from contamination and unsightly litter."
Sen. Miller represents Senate District 9 which includes Bradley, Meigs, McMinn, and Polk. He was elected to serve as Caucus Chairman of the Senate Majority Caucus for the 104th General Assembly. He currently serves on the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate State and Local Government Committee, and on the Joint Workers Compensation Committee.
Sen. Miller has been a member of the state Senate during the 99th through the 104th General Assemblies. He has served in the past as Chairman of the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee, as the Secretary of the State and Local Government Committee; as Secretary of the Senate Transportation Committee; as Secretary of the Senate Republican Caucus; as Treasurer of the Senate Republican Caucus; and as a member of the Education Oversight Committee and of the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
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