JACKSON NATIVE TAKES JOB WITH ST. LOUIS MAYOR

JEFFERSON CITY -- Chuck Miller rarely stops moving these days.

As the new communications director for St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon, the Jackson native suddenly finds himself part of the unique, hectic and often confusing world of Gateway City politics.

"I get up every morning and think 'These are the things I want to accomplish today,'" Miller explained. "By 9 a.m., I find myself pulled in totally different directions. I still get a lot accomplished, but it usually isn't what I had planned. And that's just been the first four days."

Welcome to City Hall.

Miller, 27, joined Harmon's staff Monday to oversee and coordinate the mayor's press and public information activities.

Despite the quick pace of his first week on the job, Miller is thrilled with the opportunities his role offers.

"A lot of positive things have happened since Mayor Harmon took office, and a lot more is in store," Miller said. "To be there and be part of that is really exhilarating for someone like me."

Involvement in politics and government is familiar territory to the 1990 Jackson High School graduate. His parents, Chuck and Janet Miller, reside in rural Cape Girardeau County.

From May 1996 to November 1997, Miller was communications director for Missouri Treasurer Bob Holden. Miller then left to work on political campaigns in Kentucky, Maryland and Alabama before returning to Holden's staff as director of public affairs in August 1998. He again left the treasurer's office in June to join a gubernatorial campaign in Mississippi.

Despite his new position with Harmon, Miller says he remains close friends with Holden, who is seeking the 2000 Democratic nomination for Missouri governor.

"I would not rule out my working for Bob Holden again sometime in the future," Miller said.

For the time being, though, Miller is familiarizing himself with the dynamics of St. Louis government.

"The mayor's office is consulted with on every matter you can think of from garbage collection to parking for baseball games to airport expansion," Miller said. "There are so many issues."

Among those issues is the city's next mayoral election campaign, which is already beginning to heat up. St. Louis mayoral races tend to be colorful and often vitriolic.

"Part of my job will be to be sure that attention on the mayoral race does not overshadow the work that needs to be done for the city of St. Louis," Miller said.

How the media operates is something Miller knows well, and not just from his experience as a political press spokesman. Prior to his involvement in politics, Miller worked as a reporter for the Southeast Missourian.

He joined the newspaper's staff following his graduation from Southeast Missouri State University in 1994, primarily covering local court and law enforcement issues. He remained with the newspaper until joining the state treasurer's staff in 1996.

Miller said his experiences in journalism helped prepare him for his role in politics.

"You have to learn how to deal with all sorts of people from all walks of life," Miller said. "I enjoy talking to people, and that is a big part of my job now."