East Central Reporter

Republican House candidate Chris Miller and his cohort of candidates recently hosted “An Evening with Oliver North” in Effingham.

It was the first major public event by the Restore Illinois PAC, which Miller formed along with fellow GOP candidates Darren Bailey and Blaine Wilhour to help local candidates in their pursuits of public office.

Miller, who is running for Illinois’ 110 District seat against Democrat Shirley Bell, and the PAC’s other founders each held press conferences before North addressed the crowd. Bailey is running for the 109th House District seat and Wilhour is running for the House’s 107th District.

Oliver North

Hundreds gathered at the Keller Convention Center to listen to North, the new president of the NRA and a retired Marine lieutenant, speak about what makes America special and what it means to have faith in God.

The two are intertwined, North said because faith is what helps make the country great.

Miller has campaigned on a pro-small business and de-regulation agenda.

"Look at this,” he told the Effingham Daily News. “This is not rocket science. If we ran our businesses the way the state of Illinois runs its business we'd be homeless or we'd be in jail.”

Fellow GOP candidates Dan Caulkins (District 101) and Dwight Kay (District 112) were also in attendance.

The press conference was hosted by veteran state Reps. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) and Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville).

The 110th House District includes Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar and Lawrence counties.