Decorated War Veteran Runs for Congress in 12th District
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[You sit down with Chris Miller, 31, and it's like someone opened windows on both sides of the room and let the decade-old stench of political self-propagation out.
You could breathe again.
Multiply it by a 100 new and uninfluenced faces and voices and there's a faint hope for America.
"Somebody's got to be the first," says the decorated Iraq War veteran of Carbondale of his desire to stand on the floor of Congress and tell anybody who'll listen, "You've got to make service about service again. You've got to save the Middle Class. You can't drown the crew to save the ship."
Chris announced in November he is running for Congress in the 12th congressional district in Illinois being vacated by Congressman Jerry Costello. Most of us living in the 12th have known only two congressman: Rep. Jerry Costello and before him Rep. Melvin Price, who served 20 terms in Congress. Price grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River in East St. Louis where he was born in 1905. He came to Capitol Hill as an aide at the start of the New Deal and was elected to the House while serving in the Army. He first took office in 1945. That's how far back this Metro East lock on Southern Illinois goes.
What! Move this congressional seat back to where we can all find the office again. Are you kidding?
Chris, a Democrat, is a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as an expert in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense.
While in Iraq, he helped screen Iraqi police candidates, served as a Military Transition Team (MiTT) advisor to an Iraqi infantry battalion, and planned and led security for patrols and logistical operations. He received the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, and four Army Commendation Medals.
"The politics of Washington is broken and it is holding back the communities and cities of this district, especially small towns," he said.
Obama has done what he can, but the 2008 train wreck is still smoking.
Miller said he will focus his campaign on creating jobs in the 12th district and fixing the style of politics and governing in Washington D.C. that is hurting downstate Illinois.
Chris is pretty grounded. "I campaigned when I was 15 years old," he remembers. "I stapled together signs for John Rendleman before I could shave, let alone vote," he smiles.
The thought of public service has stayed with him ever since.
He is a decorated combat veteran having received the Combat Action Badge for facing the enemy in armed combat, four awards of the Army Commendation Medal, three awards of the Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Order of the Golden Spur.
In 2004 he was awarded the Purple Heart after his military vehicle was attacked by a suicide bomber who drove an explosives-laden truck into his vehicle showering him with glass shrapnel and bursting both his ear drums.
He is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Chris is a National Security Fellow and serves as Political Director for Illinois' chapter of The Truman National Security Project.
Chris graduated from Carbondale Community High School. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Primary Leadership Development Course and graduated Bachelor of Laws, with Honors from Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
He interned for Senator Dick Durbin and for State Comptroller Dan Hynes. He also volunteered in a variety of local campaigns in and near the 12th Congressional district.
He is married to Hannah Seyffert, an attorney. Chris is a third generation veteran with his grandfather, father, uncles and cousins serving.
His mother is a nurse living in Carbondale.