Clarence E. Miller: Difference between revisions

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'''Clarence E. Miller''' (born [[November 1]], [[1917]]) was a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] [[United States House of Representatives|Congressman]] from [[Ohio]], serving [[January 3]], [[1967]] to [[January 3]], [[1993]].

Born in [[Lancaster, Ohio|Lancaster]], [[Fairfield County, Ohio]], he attended the public schools there. Before entering politics he was an electrical engineer--he earned his degree through a correspondence school--for the power company. Appointed to fill a vacancy on the Lancaster city council in [[1957]], he won a term of his own in [[1961]]. In [[1963]], he was elected mayor of Lancaster. During his tenure, he was active in the [[National League of Cities]], the [[Mayors Association of Ohio]], and the [[Ohio Municipal League]].

In 1966, the Tenth Congressional District elected him to the [[Nintieth United States Congress|Ninetieth Congress]] and he was re-elected to twelve succeeding Congresses. His only tough race in thirteen elections was his first. Miller's Congressional career was colorless. In 1990, [[Roll Call]], the newspaper covering Capitol Hill, declared him "Chairman of the Caucus of the Obscure" in a piece profiling the most unknown members. In the [[1970s]], he received a modicum of fame with his "5% Bill," consistently proposing amendments to spending bills to reduce them by five percent.

Miller's Congressional career was colorless. In 1990, [[Roll Call]], the newspaper covering Capitol Hill, declared him "Chairman of the Caucus of the Obscure" in a piece profiling the most unknown members.

After Ohio lost two seats in the [[1990]] reapportionment, Miller's district was merged with that of [[Bob McEwen]] of [[Hillsboro, Ohio|Hillsboro]], another Republican. Miller had been expected to retire--which is why his district was eliminated--but he had a strong distaste for McEwen and decided to challenge him in the Republican primary. McEwen was caught up in the [[House Bank scandal]]. Initially he denied bouncing any checks, then he admitted maybe he had bounced a few, and then it was revealed to have been over a hundred. The primary was so close it forced a recount and a lawsuit. In the final count, McEwen won 33,194 votes to Miller's 32,908. McEwen, who had been pronounced "invincible" by ''Congressional Quarterly'', lost the general election to [[Ted Strickland]]. Miller returned to Lancaster, where he still resides.