A newly announced candidate for Coles County State’s Attorney is targeting drug-related crimes in his plan to improve the area community.

Rob Miller, a Charleston attorney and Eastern graduate, is seeking a Republican party nomination.

Beyond assurances of fair and professional case-handling, Miller plans to dedicate efforts toward a safer community.

“I want to stem the tide of the drug epidemic,” Miller said. “I want to provide information and increase public awareness on all of this.”

Burglary increased 70 percent in the last year and robberies increased to three times as much as records showed in 1998, according to a recent press release by Miller.

“A lot stems from the drug issue,” he said. “Things like robbery and burglary increases in Coles County I believe are linked to the drug issue.”

Increasing knowledge of the county’s problems with drugs and crime is an important aspect of his candidacy.

“I plan to offer solutions I think will benefit the county.”

Miller is developing a Web site called “Methwatch” to promote awareness and community togetherness in fighting the county’s methamphetamine problem.

Coles is recognized as one of the state’s counties with the highest number of meth lab seizures, and Miller wants businesses and citizens to fight the problem cooperatively.

Miller has served as an attorney in Charleston since he received his license to practice in 1998.

“I have tried a lot of criminal cases ranging from misdemeanor to felony,” he said.

He has also served as an attorney for abused and neglected children in the area.

Prosecuting “those responsible for endangering the lives of our children” is listed in his press release as an additional career goal.

His campaigning efforts primarily include sharing his goals with the public.

“You have to just get out, meet voters and get feedback,” Miller said. “It is just old fashioned hard work and getting out and meeting as many people as I can.”

Miller said he will next begin petitioning and that nominations for state’s attorney will be filed in Mid-December.

The primary election is held in March and the general election will be November 2004.

Miller currently works part time at the Eastern Office of Civil Rights where he investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].