James Miller is editor of The Penticton Herald (paid daily), joining the team in 2008 after spending time in Spruce Grove and Stony Plain as their editor. During that time he co-managed the sister paper Kelowna Daily Courier from 2017-2020.

Miller was elected to Penticton City Council in the COVID byelection of June 2021, scoring an 18-point victory in a field of 10 candidates.

Taking over from Jake Kimberley, who resigned due to health issues, Miller was handed Jake’s portfolio and now serves on both the Parks Advisory Board as council’s liaison and as a voting member of the Penticton Public Library board.

Miller has had perfect attendance at all city council meetings.

As a rookie councillor, in his second public meeting Miller brought a Notice of Motion to write to Interior Health and the Ministry of Health requesting they restore full funding to Pathways Addictions and Resource Centre. This was fully supported by his fellow councillors.

During budget deliberations, Miller voted unanimously with council to drastically increase the number of RCMP and local bylaw officers in an effort to combat escalating crime.

Miller is also renowned for regular attendance at community events, festivals and meetings, boasting that next to the mayor, he attended more community events than any other member of council or candidate in this election.

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In fairness to all other candidates, Miller is again on a five-week leave of absence for the official campaign period from his job. If re-elected, he will continue working at The Herald but with all council-related coverage again being handled by other staff (with no input whatsoever from Miller.) Miller is one of two working journalists, at present, in British Columbia who is also an elected official, the other being Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden (editor of their weekly newspaper, operated by Black Press.)