Mayor says he will run for third term

Paul Miller Mayor Paul Miller will seek reelection as head of the Simi Valley City Council again this November, he announced Wednesday.

Miller, who was Simi Valley's Chief of Police for 12 years, has been a part of the City Council for the past 14 years, serving as mayor for the last four.

During his tenure as an elected official, he has played a major leadership role in various local accomplishments, including the construction of a new stateoftheart police station and the establishment of many policerelated committees like the Community Gang Task Force, the Simi Valley Police Foundation, and the Citizen's Academy.

"If you don't have a safe city, everything else is secondary," Miller said. "People are afraid to go out on the streets, crime runs rampant and the quality of life is bad. I think that in order for people to raise their families, go to school and run businesses- you can't do that in an atmosphere with a high rate of crime, and still do it successfully."

Miller's second two-year term is one of three City Council positions set to expire this year. Council members Steve Sojka and Barbra Williamson both have fouryear terms that are also expiring this year, based on the city's staggering system.

In the last two mayoral elections, Miller has gone unchallenged. If he is elected again, he said, he will continue to keep crime prevention at the top of the city's list of priorities.

Miller intends to continue the city's "staunch fiscal conservatism," despite the currently declining economy, he said.

Other local issues, such as the proposed expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, the proposed residential development in Runkle Canyon and the maintenance of traffic flow throughout the city, are also on Miller's list of top priorities.

"I've been (working) with the city now for 26 years," Miller said. "I think I have a pretty good understanding of what the city needs.

"I think it's a unique perspective that I have. As police chief, I was involved in the inner workings of the city. On the City Council, I've seen the other side. I've seen both sides of how the city works and I think that's unique compared to anyone else."

In addition to his involvement with city government, Miller is currently a charter member of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, a member of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Community Foundation and a member of the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officer's Association.

He received a bachelor's degree in religion from UCLA and a master's degree in public communication from Pepperdine University. Miller also served with the United States Naval Reserve for eight years before being granted an honorable discharge.

He began his career in policing in 1961, when he joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In 1981, he joined the Simi Valley Police Department as a captain, and was appointed to chief the following year. He served as chief until his retirement in 1994.

Miller lives with his wife, Connie, in the Bridle Path area of Simi Valley. Between them, they have four children and six grandchildren.