Candidate working for Golden Rule

Published 10:39am Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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With 300-plus votes cast in the Herald’s poll, I am pleased to say that my campaign is polling right by the current mayor. This week, I am making a pledge that I will fight for equal rights of all citizens. Regardless of disability, age, gender, orientation. I feel we need the youth to step up to the plate and realize that human rights are equal rights. We as a community will not accept bullying in our classrooms. I will be at the fair talking about equality of marriage, the importance of equality in the work place, and spreading the love of the city onto your neighbor. This won’t be an easy task. I will have churches and religious beliefs against me. But I promise that not one group of people will dominate over another. I believe in the Golden Rule that my mother taught me. The rule is simple: treat others how you would like to be treated. I believe once the community comes together we can begin growing jobs. Jobs that will create stronger families and a strong community. In November, we will vote on the marriage amendment. I hope that the city starts talking about opposing it. It suggests marriage can only be defined between a man and a woman. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “A right delayed is a right denied.” And I do call on the council to start talking about being the 11th or 12th city to oppose the amendment in the state of Minnesota. Thank you and may God bless you.

Joey Miller
Austin Mayoral Candidate

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joey-Miller/878285175 Joey Miller

    I have contacted Mayor Stiehm’s office he has yet to get back to me.

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  • fellowtraveler10

    “Coming out” as against the proposed marriage amendment? Isn’t this the amendment, that will add to the Minnesota Constitution, the stipulation that marriage is only allowed between a one man, and one woman? I’d really like to know more about this statement from Mr. Miller. I’d also like him to fully tell the voters of Austin, his detailed plan for bringing jobs into the city, and how he can do this, while reducing taxes? Does Mr. Miller have any background in managing an organization as large as the city government? How would he deal with the many city employees, police and fire department? What kind of experience does Mr. Miller have in planning a budget for a city the size of Austin?
    Again, I’m drawn back to his letter to the editor, and his support for the defeat of the proposed marriage amendment. There are cities, both large and small in this country, that have elected openly gay mayors. I’m not saying that Austin is or isn’t ready to join them. That will have to be a question that each voter needs to answer for themselves.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joey-Miller/878285175 Joey Miller

     Thanks for the question. First off, jobs, jobs, jobs that is my first goal. I know it won’t be easy but I do have experience leading an organization the size of Austin. I am proud of my record of being an Officer for Future Career and Community Leaders of America. We had thousands in this organization and I had put together a budget on what we could buy and what we couldn’t afford. The city can take many different steps to minimize tax increases. First,
    don’t spend money on projects that you don’t need. We are fixing roads
    that don’t need to be fixed at this time. If the city sold some of it’s
    private land it could help cut taxes. We have revenue that is just
    sitting there that we won’t touch that could help the tax payer. You ask about the budget. I can say this I have lived off of pennies my whole life. I am sure I can do the check book of the needs and wants. And even if I don’t experience the current mayor didn’t either when he was first elected. The police and fire department deserve the respect to be able to get the funds needed. They will always have someone to talk to if I become mayor. As I have said this topic is touchy. I know it I just wanted the public to know where I stand.

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  • fellowtraveler10

    I’d be interested in this Future Careers and Community Leaders organization that you say you controlled thousands of dollars for. What type of decisions did you need to make? Telling a group that you can or can’t afford paper clips, is quite a different thing, than telling some city employee, that he or she has to loose his job due to budget shortfalls. Taking someone’s job from them, can have devastating effects on a family.

    Also.. where are these city properties that could be sold, to help relieve the tax burden? And even if they were sold, wouldn’t this be just a one time shot of money into the city coffers? What would be some of your long term plans to relieve some of the tax burden on the citizens of Austin?

    Speaking of city employees, and the police and fire department personnel, what skills could you bring to the table when it comes to negotiating with them on wages and benefits, when employment contracts need to be renewed? Is there anything in your own personal employment background that would give you some insight into the needs of city employees?

    Can you be more specific about your plans to improve employment opportunities in Austin? You state that working together as a community, we can begin to grow jobs. I’d like to know how those jobs can be created in Austin? How specifically would you plan to attract new business to the community, or get current employers in Austin to hire more people?

    The upcoming vote in November on the constitutional amendment to only allow marriage between one man and one woman, seems to be, from your recent letter to the Austin Daily Herald, a main issue at this time in your campaign. This is an issue that will be much debated in the coming weeks, and is likely to be a lightning rod for politicians across the state. I’m not sure where your reference to Dr. King enters into this issue. Dr. King participation in the Freedom March and various non violent protests, were in an effort to obtain voting rights and equal education opportunities for black people. When Dr. King was marching for racial equality, cities were burning, black people were being hung, and children were being beaten, only because of the color of their skin. Equating marriage to a same sex couple, although indeed an issue at this time, doesn’t seem to rise to the level of importance, the issues Dr. King was working so diligently for. 

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  • J_Smokey09

     Mr. Miller, you say there are many steps the city could take to minimize tax increases. This is a relatively vague statement. Just what are some of these steps the city could take? If you could please state what some of the measures the city could take it would be helpful. What projects specifically would you be willing to cut? Selling City Land seems like it would be a very short term solution and it is just one proposal. You say there is revenue just sitting there which you wouldn’t touch. If you wouldn’t touch it, how does that help lower taxes?
    You also speak of jobs, jobs, jobs. How do you specifically propose to bring jobs to the City of Austin? Saying the word and having an actual plan are two different things. Again, a very vague statement. I would really like so hear about your plans for bringing in jobs, not just saying the words. Wishing for something just doesn’t cut it.
    Also you spoke of being against the marriage amendment and hoped that the city council could start talking about it so the City of Austin could be among other Cities in Mn opposing the amendment. Have you brought this idea before the council? It seems like you have ideas but have taken no action except writing a letter to the editor. I have no issues with a gay man running for mayor, in fact I think it shows some courage. On the other hand, it seems you have done nothing but mention it in a letter to the editor. Comparing your letter to the editor to the struggles of Dr. King is well, there is no comparison
    Actually, I think it is rather ridiculous to even try to compare the struggle of equal rights of Black Americans and all the history that goes with it, to the gay marriage amendment.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joey-Miller/878285175 Joey Miller

     I do have a plan for jobs here in Austin. We have buildings sitting empty in town that the owners could sell if we could lower there taxes. I have said over and over I can not be the only one to decide, It takes the whole city to become successful. I have tried to contact the city council about allowing the public to speak on the marriage amendment. Since, I am a candidate for office I am not allowed to address the city council. We have a number of projects I would cut. One would be creating more bike trails. Does the community need bike trails at this time? I would cut building memorials. Does our city ensure people have a job maintaining rocks? Again, I would sit my jobs committee down and we can talk about what would create the most jobs for Austin. I have said that there is land that the current Mayor and city council hasn’t touched. This land can be sold. Lastly, civil rights for the GBLT community is important to me and I believe Dr. King would say the same thing. He want equality for all in his last speech. I think about the mountain climber game on price is right. He goes slow but he always gets to the top. Same can be said for marriage. It takes time before the society can accept it. I believe in A better Austin. Thanks and God Bless Joey Miller

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  • fellowtraveler10

    Mr. Miller, these are just more vagaries, with no real answers to questions that have been posed to you. While selling some properties that the city owns would inject some immediate amount of cash into the city coffers, where is your long term plan to keep funds flowing into city spending needs?

    I’m also confused about your reference to your “jobs committee”. Are you saying that you don’t have your own plan to attract new employers, or to encourage current employers to increase their hiring  in Austin? You need yet another committee to help you come up with these plans? Would this committee be another expenditure for the city of Austin? 

    As far as Austin not expanding or maintaining it’s parks and bike trails, these city amenities are factors that are sought out by businesses that may think of expanding to Austin. These facilities are important to families and individuals, to make the city life experience more amenable. Bicycling is not only a growing recreational pass time, but has become a means of commute to and from jobs for many Austin citizens.

    And once again, you’ve referenced Dr. King, and his struggle for equal rights for minorities, inferring that his courageous efforts are on an equal plane as the current efforts to defeat the amendment that would ban same sex marriage in Minnesota. How can these two issues be placed on the same level? This is an insult to those people that joined Dr. King, and risked jail, brutality and in some cases death, to advance the cause of equal rights. 

    I’m having a difficult time to take your candidacy  seriously Mr. Miller. The position of mayor in the city of  Austin, really requires the person that holds that office, have definitive answers to voters questions. A plan for improving the quality of life in Austin, and perhaps the life, learning and working experience, that inspires confidence in the voters. 

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joey-Miller/878285175 Joey Miller

    I agree to disagree. My jobs committee would not be an expenditure to the city. I will reach out to citizens who are interested in creating jobs here in Austin. Some people might be small business owners, managers, and employee’s of businesses here in town. Are focus is what do we want Austin to look like in 2020. We need to transform the way Austin thinks. This requires everyone coming together. You may not like my policy. In the end of the day we will have a better Austin. I will not let one single citizen be discriminated against while I am mayor. I know bike trails are a good way to commute but do we have the income to keep them in top duty? Do we want to force a business not to open because we can’t afford them in Austin? It is a questions voters will have to answer August 14th. My answer is easy and people won’t like it. We do not have the money and the state doesn’t have the money. We have to remember that the state has just got out of it’s economic downfall. I believe my leadership on one of the most controversial issues is just one step. Citizens will decide if we keep going down or if we elect someone who can make a difference. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. My email is joeymiller35@yahoo.com.

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    • fellowtraveler10

      I’m sorry Mr. Miller, but your responses just seem to be avoidance, with no answers. I agree that the voters will decide who’s best qualified to lead the city of Austin. I think I’ve aldeady decided who isn’t.

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      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joey-Miller/878285175 Joey Miller

         And that is your choice. God Bless America!

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