An interview with Steve Miller

A former Las Vegas city councilman, and an airline pilot by trade, Miller is the former CEO of Desert Southwest Airlines. He has devoted much of his life to working with the mentally and physically challenged, serving as a volunteer and board member for Opportunity Village for 20 years and performing similar duties with Goodwill Industries. Now 54 years old, Miller is as close to a native Las Vegan as it gets, having lived in the valley since he was 14. Miller is now a mayoral candidate for the second time after an unsuccessful bid in 1991. In addition to running his mayoral campaign, he is working as an independent business consultant for out-of-state clients looking to relocate to Clark County.

What book are you reading right now?

I'm not. Just this weekend I completed my recertification with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) so I've been reading a lot, but it's all very technical.   It's hard to say I've been reading a book because that's painful stuff. 

What was your first job and how did it end?

My first job was as a delivery boy and it ended by me becoming a partner in the company. It was a souvenir manufacturing firm, Las Vegas Souvenirs.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a policeman. I didn't do it because the weight requirement when I was 21 was such that I needed to put on 20 pounds, and try as I might, I couldn't get that beefed up.

What's the one thing you believed at 18 that you wish you still believed now?

That everyone in the world could get along.

Stewardess or flight attendant?

Flight attendant.

New Vegas or old Vegas? Why?

Old Vegas. It needed to be preserved and instead it's been imploded. It was a wonderful place to live and grow up.

What's your favorite place to gamble?

City Hall.

As an ardent gaming critic, you're not likely to get much financial support from casinos.  How do you plan to fill your campaign coffers?

Casinos that are willing to expand within the state are supporting me because they appreciate my anti extra-Nevada expansion stance. (Miller believes gaming expansion should not be allowed outside Nevada). They also appreciate my pro intra-Nevada expansion position. I'm not anti-gambling or anti-casino, I'm anti-expansion outside of our state. 

With Jones pulling out of the race, do you still have the same incentive to run?

Yes, I still have fire in my belly, because she has done so much damage and I'm a mechanic. It's my natural inclination to fix things.

With all the heavy hitters angling for this position do you think you have a shot?

Absolutely. Between two of them (Jay Bingham and Arnie Adamsen) and Jones I still thought I had a shot. Without Jones I have an even better shot. She was the heavy hitter and now they'd need to put in two more heavy hitters to replace her.

--CityLife staff