Ken Miller (Montana politician)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ken Miller (born February 1, 1957)[1] is a Montana business owner and former Republican member of the Montana State Senate. He served as Chairman of the Montana Republican Party from 2001 to 2003 and was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Montana in the 2012 election.[2]
Miller was born in Fort Collins, Colorado,[1] and was raised on a dairy farm in Colorado until 1974, when his family moved to Joliet, Montana. In 1979 he started a construction and roofing business which he ran with his wife until 2001. Currently he and his family operate a furniture store in Laurel, Montana. In 1980 he married his wife, Peggy. The couple has two children, Max and Kyndall.[3]
Political career
In 1994 Miller was elected to the Montana State Senate in a traditionally democratic district which was previously represented by Chet Blaylock, a respected Montana political veteran and the Democratic nominee for governor in 1996. Miller served in the Senate for 8 years, where he counts among his legislative accomplishments working to privatize state liquor stores and helping reduce the coal severance tax.[4] Miller also served as chairman of the Montana Republican Party from 2001 to 2003 and saw significant majorities in both houses of the State Legislature.[5] In 2004, Miller sought the Republican nomination for governor when Judy Martz announced that she would not seek a second term. In a crowded primary he garnered 22% of the vote in an election ultimately won by Secretary of State Bob Brown.[6]