"If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation."--Samuel Adams, letter to Elbridge Gerry, November 27, 1780

Biography: 

I was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in the Northwest.  Raised by a single mother for most of my childhood, I was fortunate to have a strong Christian upbringing.  I learned early to work hard and hold true to the things I was taught and saw education as the key to opening future doors of opportunity.  Shortly after graduating from high school, I served as a missionary in Taiwan for my church.  After spending almost two years overseas, I headed home to the U.S. and attended college at Brigham Young University (BYU), earning a B.A. in Communications.  While in college I met and married my amazing wife, Kerry Lynne Miller and in 2002, we moved to Tallahassee, Florida where I earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Florida State University College of Law.  We both worked in various jobs during college and financed our own education. 

After graduation I took a job in Destin, Florida which led to my current position as Senior Director of Business Development for WNC Satcom Group.  My job has taken me all over the U.S. and many countries throughout the world as I have handled various business and legal related issues.  My job relocated us to Hattiesburg, Mississippi in the spring of 2007 and we settled in Petal where we currently live with our four beautiful children.  I am an avid sports fan and recently competed in my first triathlon where I won my division.  I have been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, both as a scout and volunteer and have served in various capacities with my church.  I love football and have coached a number of teams, most recently volunteering with the Petal High School varsity team. We attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) in Hattiesburg.

My experience living in five different states and on the other side of the world gives me unique insight into the opportunities we have here in Mississippi to lead our Country back to a position of economic prosperity and freedom.  It also gives me the background to see the big picture and the opportunities available to our local economy if we have the right representative leading the charge.  Whether managing a team responsible for over $400 million in sales, starting a new company, or facing off with the FCC, I have been at the forefront of innovation and progress.  I have had to fight for my conservative principles and I have seen firsthand how states are better equipped to serve their local citizens verses the “one-size-fits-all” legislation that comes out of D.C. 

I believe in the American Dream and the tremendous possibilities if we pursue it.  I am living this Dream!

Family: “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”—Thomas Jefferson   My family is my greatest joy and blessing.  They are at the core of everything I do and one of the main reasons I am running for Congress.  I want my children to have a bright future where they can pursue their dreams and not be fettered by the poor decisions of our irresponsible government and apathetic electorate.  I believe it is my responsibility to get involved to help stem the tide of government expansion and intrusion into every facet of our lives.  Raising a family takes an incredible amount of hard work and patience, but the love of my wife and four children make it all worth it.   Faith: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16   I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and that by following his teachings I can enjoy peace and joy in my life.  I do not have scientific proof for this, only the personal witness I have received over and over again by doing my best to live a Christ-centered life and recognizing His hand in all that I do.  I believe, as many of our Founding Fathers believed, that our great nation was established by divine providence.  I wholeheartedly agree with George Washington when he stated, “Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.”

Country: “The ultimate authority… resides in the people alone.”—James Madison   “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.”—John Adams   I cannot remember a time in my life when I have not absolutely loved my country and American heritage.  I live by the mantra… “Love It, or Leave It.”  While living in Taiwan for nearly two years as a missionary, I kept a running list of the things I missed about America and was humbled by the sheer number of things that I had taken for granted.  I also remember the hollow, helpless feeling I had when I saw the Oklahoma City bombing being reported in Chinese on the news.   I yearned to be home with my family and countrymen. I still believe America is the greatest country in the world, even if she has been tarnished by the irresponsibility and self-interest of many of our elected officials.  It is our duty to restore America to her former glory by removing the canker in our Federal Government.