BYU professor to run for Utah House

PROVO — Hal Miller, who has taught psychology at BYU for the past 35 years, is running for the Utah House of Representatives in District 64.

Miller said he recognized that running as a Democrat against Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, the majority assistant whip, would be an uphill battle. However, Miller said he believes his legislative district, which encompasses much of southwest Provo, would benefit from a fresh perspective.

"The longer one person is in office, the more entangled one becomes with special interests," he said. "What I represent is a chance for more of a grass-roots feel. I am hoping there will be rapport with my neighbors in a way that is not the case at the present time."

Miller, who has lived in the same house in the district for more than 30 years, also said he supports public education and has signed the initiative petition for ethics reform.

"I encourage everyone to do so," he said, adding that he intends to follow the campaign ethics spelled out in the proposed initiative.

Miller has been widely published. His honors include BYU's Karl G. Maeser General Education Professorship in 2005 and the Karl G. Maeser General Education Professorship Office of Undergraduate Education in 2006.

Miller has been active in the Boy Scouts of America program and has volunteered at the Slate Canyon Detention Center in Provo for the past six years.

— Marc Haddock