State Rep. Aaron Miller vowed during his improbable 2014 Michigan House campaign to involve more young people in politics.

The Sturgis Republican is still only 29 in his second Lansing term representing 93,000 constituents in Cass and St. Joseph counties.

He returned to his second home, the classroom, on President’s Day to talk to Southwestern Michigan College American government and U.S. history students, familiarizing them with web sites by which they can “monitor the political process,” tracking bills or votes to hold officeholders accountable.

Miller could seek re-election to a third two-year term before being term-limited, as state Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, will be next year after 14 years — six in the House, eight in the Senate.

However, people who think Miller is jockeying for Proos’ 21st District Senate seat should think again.

“I’m leaning against it,” Miller told Dr. Mary Young-Marcks’ and Dr. Jeffrey Dennis’ classes as father of daughters Jael and Leah.

Miller and his wife, Alexandria, bought his Sherman Township boyhood home from his parents, so he lives in the same house he grew up in north of Sturgis, a 55-minute drive from SMC.

He could return to teaching, which the 2006 Sturgis High School graduate clearly relishes. He taught math at Northridge High School in Middlebury and coached tennis, track and cross country.

He majored in political science at Western Michigan University for his 2010 bachelor’s degree in secondary education. He added a 2014 master’s degree in school administration from Bethel College.

Miller’s 59th District encompasses all of St. Joseph County and part of Cass County, including Dowagiac and Calvin, Jefferson, LaGrange, Marcellus, Mason, Newberg, Penn, Pokagon, Porter, Volinia and Wayne townships.

Rep. Dave Pagel, R-Berrien Springs, represents Silver Creek Township and the Edwardsburg area of Howard, Milton and Ontwa townships.

Miller likes to say his district office is his kitchen table.

“That’s where I work when I’m home,” he said. “I was 26 when I started running three years ago, 27 when sworn into office. I taught four years, high school and middle school math in Michigan and Indiana. I minored in math because I knew there are generally fewer math teachers than social studies, my major. Running for office had been an interest of mine since I was a little boy — which sounds weird because it is. Growing up, I followed the presidents. When I was about 10, I helped Cameron Brown’s campaign.”

Brown, who spoke at SMC March 25, 2015, on “The Relevance of Abraham Lincoln,” held Miller’s seat 1999-2002.

Miller survived a four-way August Republican primary to succeed term-limited former St. Joseph County Sheriff Matt Lori, besting John Bippus, Roger Rathburn and Bob Sills with 37.52 percent.

In November, Miller defeated Dowagiac Democrat Mike Moroz, 14,141 (62.25 percent) to 8,574 (37.75 percent).

Miller became a candidate reluctantly. Besides his youth, “My pragmatic thought was ‘I’m not important or from an influential family.’ I expected to run a grassroots campaign, lose and use that experience later. My wife scolded me for giving myself zero chance to win.”

Limited to a $10,000 campaign determined he would be introducing himself at government meetings, door-knocking and relying on volunteers and small donations rather than slick television spots.

“If you don’t have free media — Donald Trump — you have to sell yourself and get your name out there. Nobody puts candidates in the paper for free,” Miller said. “I’m not on Twitter, but I had free Facebook social media.”

“The job is what you make of it,” Miller said. “I call people from my cell phone, which disarms them. They’re surprised it’s not staff. I want to show people I’m trying to engage them — not dodge them. You listen to constituents as best you can, then make the best decision.”

Miller dissected a bill on big-box stores appealing to the Tax Tribunal to reduce property-tax burdens, including deed restrictions limiting prospective buyers.

“Before you know it,” Miller said, “an $8-million building is paying taxes on a $1.1-million building. Does that sound fair? Republicans are generally pro-business and pro-jobs, but I’ll call a spade a spade. I voted for this bill to be pro-fairness to prevent stores from doing what I describe. Most Republicans agreed. It passed the House with 97 of 110 representatives even though their strong lobby was vehemently opposed. I was impressed.”

“If you work hard, a common guy can make it to the state House,” Miller said. “Donald Trump, Gov. Rick Snyder and I have shown you don’t have to be politically entrenched to win a position. Donald Trump is our first president who did not come from politics or military generals. In White Pigeon, a high school senior (Joe Taylor) got elected to school board (in 2010). Anything is possible.”

Southwestern Michigan College is a public, residential and commuter, community college, founded in 1964. The college averages in the top 10 percent nationally for student academic success based upon the National Community College Benchmark Project. Southwestern Michigan College strives to be the college of first choice, to provide the programs and services to meet the needs of students, and to serve our community. The college is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.