Rita LaMoreaux <rita@mirsnews.com> Patrick Miles Jr. Announces Congressional Run in MI-3 1 message Pat Miles for Congress <wolf@newpartners.com> To: info@mirsnews.com Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 9:14 AM Pat Miles for Congress For Immediate Release Miles Jr. March 18, 2010 616-540-2833 Contact: Patrick Phone: PATRICK MILES JR. ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL RUN IN MI-3 Miles: I m frustrated that politicians in Congress are not working together to solve problems. Grand Rapids, MI - - Patrick Miles Jr., a Grand Rapids business attorney and community leader, announced today he is launching his campaign for Michigan s 3rd Congressional District in the 2010 election as a Democrat. Miles made his announcement via a YouTube video posted on www.patmilesforcongress.com. Miles has spent the last two decades working as a business lawyer helping small, family-owned businesses start, grow, and create jobs in West Michigan. Miles has also helped cities, townships, and villages fight cable companies for lower rates, better customer service, and increased video competition. 1 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
I am not a politician. I ve never run for office before. But I m running now, because it is time to work together. Our government works, when there are leaders in W ashington who care more about doing good than scoring political points, said Pat Miles. It works, when Congress worries more about solving problems than who s in power. Government works best when it remembers it s for the people, by the people and of the people. Being in Congress isn t an entitlement. It is an opportunity to fight each day for Michigan values and communities. John Witte, a local Grand Rapids businessman said, "I know that Pat Miles is a man of integrity and faith. He has the values and common sense thinking we need in Washington to move the country forward. He also understands the role small and family-owned businesses play in creating jobs and keeping the economy strong. I am glad to support an independent thinker and leader like him." Local community leader, Kate Pew Wolters said, "Pat Miles cares about our community and understands the challenges we face. He will go to Washington and fight for all of us. I have known Pat for many years and he is a person with integrity and commitment who will do his part to make government work again." Miles, 42, was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and attended Grand Rapids Public Schools. Miles is a third generation Grand Rapids resident, and has lived in Michigan s Third Congressional District his entire life. He holds a degree in business administration and economics from Aquinas College and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991. He is a former chairman of the Aquinas College Board of Trustees and served as President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association from 2004 to 2005. For more information please visit www.patmilesforcongress.com. # # # PATRICK MILES, JR. Family and Faith 2 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
Pat Miles is a life-long, third generation Grand Rapids resident. His paternal grandfather worked in a local GM plant and was a union steward. His maternal grandfather was an Isabella County farmer. His parents, Pat Sr. and Shirley Miles, put themselves through college and taught him important lessens about faith, hard work, and service. His dad is a Steelcase retiree and his mom Shirley retired after teaching early elementary students in the Grand Rapids Public Schools for 25 years. Pat's sister Angela works in broadcasting in Chicago. Angela and Pat celebrated their parents' 50 th wedding anniversary in July 2009. Pat was a leader of his youth group at Kentwood Christian Church. He attended bible camp at Rock Lake Christian Assembly in Vestaburg, Michigan each summer from fourth grade to ninth. He spent his freshman year of college at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing. He remains an active member of his church, Grand Rapids Christian Church. Education Pat Miles attended Grand Rapids Public Schools and graduated from Ottawa Hills High School at the age of 16. He graduated from Aquinas College in 1988 with a degree in business administration and economics and was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. He worked in an office furniture factory as a spot-welder all four summers during college. His hard work got him into Harvard Law School. While there, he became editorin-chief of the Harvard Law Record, one of America's oldest law school student newspapers. Experience After Harvard, Pat Miles returned home to Grand Rapids in 1991 to start his career and work for the community. Over the past two decades he has worked hard as a business lawyer helping small, family-owned businesses start, grow and create jobs in West Michigan. His work with businesses of all sizes helped him understand the challenges business face and how to anticipate and prevent problems. He has worked 3 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
with successful entrepreneurs and job engines. He also helped cities, townships and villages fight cable companies to get lower rates and better customer service, win customer refunds, protect public safety, and increase video competition. Community Work Pat Miles is a recognized West Michigan community leader, who for nearly 20 years, has worked to expand education opportunities, improve neighborhoods and the quality of life, and increase the number of healthy families. For example, he serves on the DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation Board, he lead Inner-City Christian Federation a faith-based non-profit which builds and creates affordable housing ownership opportunities as chairman, he is the immediate past chairman of the Aquinas College Board of Trustees, and serves as Treasurer of Hope Network, Spectrum Health Hospitals, and the Metropolitan Grand Rapids YMCA. Honors and Awards Pat Miles' two decades of service and results as a community and business leader are recognized by awards from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, State Bar of Michigan, Grand Rapids Branch NAACP, and both the Grand Rapids and Michigan Jaycees. In 2002, he was elected to serve as president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Although his service and leadership have earned him numerous awards and accolades, those are not what drives him. Helping and serving people are his motivations. For example, four years ago he established a scholarship for outstanding minority students pursuing an education and career in education or business in honor of his parents. Pat Miles possesses a unique breadth of experience in the private sector, helping local businesses, representing cities and consumers throughout Michigan and the U.S. locally and in Washington, serving charities such as schools and healthcare organizations. ### 4 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
For immediate release on Thursday, March 18, 2010 Patrick Miles, Jr. Announcement Statement My name is Pat Miles and I am announcing today that I am running for Congress to represent the people of Michigan's third district. I am running because I am frustrated. I m frustrated that politicians in Congress are not working together to solve problems. I m frustrated because people are hurting, businesses are suffering, good workers are losing their jobs, working families and the middle class are getting squeezed. I m frustrated because our country is in crisis we need action and good policies and instead all we get from Washington is political posturing and lock step partisanship. I am not a politician. I ve never run for office before. But I m running now, because it is time to work together. Our government works, when there are leaders in Washington who care more about doing good than scoring political points. It works, when Congress worries more about solving problems than who s in power. Government works best when it remembers it s for the people, by the people and of the people. Being in Congress isn t an entitlement. It is an opportunity to fight each day for Michigan values and communities. I was born and raised in Grand Rapids and have lived in this district all my life. I attended Grand Rapids Public Schools. Both of my parents put themselves through college and stressed the importance of faith, and the role of church in our lives. I was active in my church youth group and remain active in my church today. My dad worked at Steelcase and my mom was a teacher. They taught me lessons about hard work and service lessons they learned from their parents. 5 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
My dad s dad worked in a local GM plant and was a UAW steward and my mother s dad was a farmer in Isabella County. I graduated from Aquinas College with a degree in business administration and economics. During college, for four very hot summers, I worked as a spot welder in an office furniture factory. My hard work got me to Harvard Law School. After Harvard, I returned home to Grand Rapids to start my career and work for the community. For the past two decades I have worked as a business lawyer helping small, family-owned businesses start, grow and create jobs in West Michigan. I also helped cities, townships and villages fight cable companies for lower rates, better customer service, and increased video competition. I focused my career on solving problems and getting things done. The challenges in front of us can only be solved if we work together and find the best way forward regardless of party or ideology. We must move the economy in Michigan and the Nation forward. We must keep and create jobs. Standing still is falling behind. During this campaign I hope you will find that I am an independent thinker who will listen, use common sense, and work with others to find the best solutions to the challenges we face. I am prepared to take on this fight for you. I need your support. Together we can make government work for us again. 6 of 7 3/18/10 10:38 AM
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