Oakland Resident Chris Miller, 63, officially made his bid for state representative in the 110th district Monday, filing the paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections to be a Republican candidate.

Monday was the first day candidates could file to have their names in March’s primary elections. The general election will take place on Nov. 6, 2018.

According to the candidate’s guide from the ISBE, established party candidates can file for candidacy until Dec. 4.

“My message is simple,” Miller said in a press release. “We need more jobs in the 110th district and we need to stop the outward migration of people and resources to other states.”

He has never run for public office before, according to The News-Gazette.

In the release, Miller said he would defend second amendment rights and speak up for “traditional family values.”

According to his website, he plans on voting to impose term limits on politicians.

He was not available for comment before press time Monday.

Miller lives in Coles County and received a bachelor’s degree in education from Eureka College. Before that he attended Lake Land College, getting an associate’s degree in agriculture.

Current Rep. Reggie Phillips (R-Charleston) has said he will not run for re-election.

Shirley Bell, a retired communication studies professor, announced her intention to seek the democratic nomination for state representative of the 110th district in October.

In an article from The Daily Eastern News, Bell said she chose to run for state representative for a number of reasons, including the budget impasse.

“Two and a half years without a budget is two and a half years too long,” she said in the article.

The News desk can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].