Bert Miller Announces Candidacy for Congress

Republican newcomer will run for in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District

NAPERVILLE, IL – Area businessman Bert Miller today announced his candidacy for the 11th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Miller cited his goal to work on economic development and job creation issues while helping make Congress less rancorous among his reasons for running.

“Like many Americans, I’ve sat back and watched Congress evolve into a poisonous environment where too few seek common ground,” Miller said. “In the meantime, our economy continues to struggle, millions remain out of work and important programs like Social Security teeter on the edge of disaster. Like other voters, I’m tired of waiting for change; it’s time to make it happen.”

Miller recently stepped down after three decades managing Phoenix Closures, a small manufacturer of plastic bottle caps and lids headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.  While this is the first political office he’s run for, Miller has long been active in promoting job growth, fiscal responsibility, economic development and education reform through numerous civic and nonprofit organizations. He is a former Chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Board member of the National Association of Manufacturers. In addition, he served on the boards of Hales Franciscan High School—a South Side institution dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth prepare for higher education—and the Big Shoulders Fund—a group with a mission to provide support to Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner city Chicago.

According to Miller, his decision to run came as a surprise to many.

“Family and friends have repeatedly tried to warn me about the brutal nature of politics,” Miller stated. “I’ve never run for any office, but no matter how tough it gets, I doubt that going through it is any worse than what millions of people are going through due to Washington’s failure to reach consensus on so many key issues. I think things can change for the better; we can fix the health care debacle; we can put Social Security on sound footing; and we can help create a better economic climate.”

Among Miller’s main goals is promoting a common-sense plan to encourage the return of American corporate money currently being held overseas.

“Around $2 trillion dollars of American companies’ profits remain overseas when we need an influx of investment here at home,” Miller said. “Those companies have already paid taxes in the countries where they made the profits; we need to encourage that money to come back home for investment by requiring a reasonable U.S. tax be paid as long as the funds go to work expanding our economy. We should ask ourselves a simple question: do we want to continued to get bailed out by the Chinese, or give U.S. employers a chance instead?”

Miller pledged to promote economic development while keeping important safety net programs in place.

“I understand that I’ve had wonderful opportunities to succeed, but I also know that others haven’t been so lucky,” said Miller. “Creating new jobs and better opportunities to prosper is a great start. The ultimate cure for poverty is employment, but those in need aren’t a faceless mass of statistics. They deserve to have an unbridled path to succeed, and that will be one of my goals.”

Bert Miller and his wife Dee Dee have been married for 38 years. They have three children: Giles, Albert and Deidre.

BertMillerforCongress.com

 ###