Seth Miller, candidate for City Council Ward 7 in Belleville, IL
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More on the election for Belleville City Council Ward 7
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Name: Seth Miller
Political party (if applicable): Independent
Age as of April 6, 2021: 40
Campaign website or social media page: www.facebook.com/voteforsethmiller
Office seeking: 7th Ward Alderman
Are you an incumbent? No
Previous offices sought: None
Occupation: Retired veteran
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resources
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Air Force Wounded Warriors Program resiliency facilitator. St. Louis Food Bank liaison for Scott AFB. Revamped the Belleville Women’s shelter.
Who are your top three campaign contributors? I’ve had non financial support from standing Aldernen, family and the community.
Why are you running? I would love to see a better sense of community within our ward. Also, to help to create more family and community base centers within our city. I would also like to be a liaison between our community and the Air Force.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? Lack of connectivity within 7th ward. We have two different school districts in the same district. I would facilitate meetings to bring the two together.
Why should people vote for you? Because I bring a unique background as a person that moved to Belleville 10 years ago, I have a diverse mindset that could help the city along the next coming years.
Belleville Tax Increment Finance District 3, or TIF 3, is expiring this year. Do you agree with the proposal to extend the expiration date for another 12 years? Why/why not? I do not agree with the extension. I believe the great city of Belleville is more than ready to grow and develop businesses that could help employ our neighbors and bring money back to the city.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on parts of Belleville’s economy. How would you grade the city’s response and, if you are elected, what would you do to help businesses and residents? I would grade it as a B+. The Covid-19 pandemic is new for everyone, and we all had to gain a new sense of normalcy, and we as a community are doing good. The information for our students at schools are great, and the communication from our leaders is outstanding. There’s always room for improvement. If I were elected, I would help our ward to understand options to reintergrate post Covid-19 safely. I would be an example for social distance and promote anything that can help us beat this horrible disease together.
What is your opinion of how the Belleville Police Department handles public safety in the city? Do you think the city needs more or fewer police officers? If you want additional officers, how would you fund that cost? I am a huge fan of our Belleville Police department. I’m very impressed by their quality of professionalism and care for our city. I think policing our neighborhoods should be a community effort, so we can give them a hand in our realms of responsibility.
Belleville has offered various tax incentives to support businesses in recent years. What are your plans to increase economic development in the city and how would you use tax incentives? Youth sponsored programs that would help them to find their passion and cultivate them locally. A plan that could keep our community growing by literally investing in our future.
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 1:04 AM.