Police chief Smith runs as pro-law enforcement
Tim Miller, Stratford, is running for the 69th Assembly Republican primary as a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-law enforcement candidate.
Miller, who has served as Stratford Police chief for four years, is a New London native who graduated in 1993 with a police science degree from Fox Valley Technical College. He has pursued a law enforcement career for 27 years.
Miller is married to Tirzah and the couple have three children, ages 13, 15 and 17. The candidate has a history of being a volunteer sports coach. He is a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, March Rapids.
Miller said he considers retiring assemblyman Rep. Bob Kulp, Stratford, a model and would hope, if elected, to “follow in his footsteps.” He said he received a political education after being sent down to the Madison state capitol as a law enforcement officer to deal with protesters who objected to Act 10, the legislation introduced by Gov. Scott Walker to curb the power of public labor unions.
“That was very eye opening,” he said.
Miller said he is “a strong Christian, a strong pro-life and Second Amendment candidate” who has been endorsed by Wisconsin Pro-Life and Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks.
The candidate said he objects to the current “negativity” surrounding police with national protests and, if elected, he would promote an agenda to support law enforcement.
“Absolutely,” he said.
Miller, who said Wisconsin police officers were among the best trained in the world, said it was a media “falsehood” that officers in this state use choke holds to restrain people.
“That is not a law enforcement tactic,” he said, and, referring to the alleged murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, “We in law enforcement all got a black eye. That is very unfair.”
Miller said he is concerned that police officers have to devote time and energy to dealing with mentally ill people who self-medicate with contraband drugs. He supports more mental health services.
“If we have a mental health commitment, two of my officers might have to drive to Green Bay or Oshkosh if there is no room for a person in Wausau,” he said.
Miller said he supports spending more money to fix roads but opposes tax increases to pay for the road maintenance. He has signed a taxpayer protection pledge and said that other programs in the state budget will need to be cut to pay for the road repairs.
“We need to cut our spending,” Miller said. “We have one of the highest property taxes in the nation and that affects the elderly population. I am against raising taxes.”
Miller said he disagrees with how the state of Wisconsin shut down businesses and schools due to COVID-19, saying it was too harsh. “It was totally against the constitution,” he said.
The candidate said he would not support having the state Department of Health Services secretary mandate lockdown rules without the express permission of the state legislature. To do otherwise, he said, is “very irresponsible.”
