4th District candidate keeps faith despite campaign woes

CHESAPEAKE

Andrea Miller has had a difficult time in her first campaign for Congress.

Her campaign manager and finance director quit in July. She has struggled to raise money. A public records check shows more than $10,000 in outstanding debts in her name.

The Democratic candidate, who is now working with an all- volunteer staff, said she still believes she has a shot to unseat Rep. Randy Forbes. The Republican incumbent, a lifelong Chesapeake resident, has raised more than 30 times as much campaign cash.

"People still don't want to give me money, for whatever reason," Miller said. "If I'm going to win this race, I'm doing it on energy and charm."

Miller said some of her campaign problems aren't her fault. She said her previous campaign manager and finance director weren't doing their jobs, which is partly why she hasn't raised as much money.

Her former campaign manager, Dan Coleman, said Miller owes him about $5,800. Miller said she has no intention of paying him, saying he did "totally unsatisfactory work."

Coleman said Miller refused to make the necessary calls to raise money.

"If you've got a second-rate candidate running for office, she wouldn't recognize quality if it hit her in the face," he said. "She doesn't pay her bills. So why would I expect to be paid either?"

Miller said she didn't know about $8,685 in payroll tax debt she owed to the state of California, and now plans to pay it off in November. Miller also said she owed more than $2,000 to a Maryland physical therapy group, which she said she refused to pay because the treatment she received hurt her more than it helped her.

The Forbes campaign has declined to comment on Miller's campaign.

Her campaign had raised $16,000 through June, according to the latest set of federal reports. Forbes' campaign had raised more than $515,000.

Forbes first won his congressional seat in a 2001 special election. He was a state delegate and senator before that.

Miller said she has met Forbes just once.

She sent her campaign photographer to a Forbes campaign picnic at his private residence last month to challenge the congressman to a debate. Miller's photographer was asked to leave politely by security, a Forbes campaign spokeswoman said.

The two candidates were both scheduled to attend at least two forums and events. The next will be Tuesday in Smithfield.

Miller, who lives in Chesterfield, teaches Web and computer courses for emergency management agencies. She previously worked on U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign and was a regional coordinator for MoveOn.org.

Miller said she has been trying to make 40 personal appearances each month. She said she handed out 1,100 pieces of literature in an hour in Emporia. She also said that volunteers for presidential candidate Barack Obama have been helping with her campaign.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com