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Chad Miller, a longtime county planning official and regional manager with the Illinois Farm Bureau, is campaigning for the Kankakee County Board seat in District 25. With the county election approaching, Miller is pitching a platform built on fiscal discipline, farmland protection and strengthening public safety—issues he says will shape daily life and local services.
Miller, 50, lives in the Village of Bradley and was raised on a family farm north of Forrest in Livingston County. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, where he pursued two study-abroad terms examining economies and governance in Argentina and Lithuania. Professionally, he has worked more than two decades with the Farm Bureau and describes himself as a sixth-generation farmer by background.
| Name | Chad Miller |
| Seeking | Kankakee County Board, District 25 |
| Age | 50 |
| Occupation | Regional Manager, Illinois Farm Bureau |
| Residence | Bradley, Illinois |
Track record and local roles
Miller currently serves as Vice-Chair of the county’s Planning, Zoning and Agriculture Committee and sits on the Highway, Waterways and Buildings Committee as well as the Finance Committee. He previously represented District 22 on the county board between 2012 and 2013 and chairs the Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission, a position he has held after joining the body in 2004.
He reports faultless participation at county board meetings this year, attending all ten sessions held to date. Miller also notes long-standing involvement with community organizations, from hospital and United Way boards to chamber government affairs work.
Top priorities
Miller frames his campaign around three central goals he says will preserve quality of life across the county:
- Sound fiscal management: Maintain county revenues and closely monitor spending to protect services and avoid unnecessary debt.
- Farmland and natural-resource protection: Safeguard the Kankakee River, parks and agricultural land from avoidable loss and poor land-use decisions.
- Public safety and mental health: Support first responders and expand attention to mental-health challenges that affect crime and community well-being.
Community involvement
Miller’s public-service résumé spans both civic and religious organizations. Highlights include:
- Chairman, Kankakee County Regional Planning Commission
- Board member, Kankakee County Economic Alliance (since 2021)
- Former trustee, Asbury United Methodist Church; current attendee at River Valley Christian Fellowship
- Nine years on the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation board; three years with Kankakee County United Way
- Past board member of the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce and former chair of its Governmental Affairs Committee
Balancing growth and agriculture
Miller emphasizes that farmland is a limited and valuable resource, not simply open space for development. He notes agriculture contributes roughly one-sixth of the county’s economic output and says that reality should guide land-use choices.
His stance favors economic growth when paired with careful planning: prioritize reinvestment in existing towns and cities, limit sprawling subdivisions that consume productive land, and weigh infrastructure costs tied to new development. Miller points to his two decades-plus experience in county land-use planning as the basis for those positions.
Foreign investment and local control
When asked about recent interest from a China-based company in local land, Miller described a cautious approach. He said outside investment can bring jobs and taxes, but communities must weigh those gains against potential risks. He opposes foreign ownership of farmland and would support restrictions that limit control by companies headquartered in countries with tense relations with the U.S.
On broader planning policy, he criticized the proposed BUILD Act for delegating decisions away from local officials. Miller argues that land-use decisions are best made by residents and local representatives who understand specific community needs, rather than through a one-size-fits-all state mandate.
Why he’s running — and what he sees ahead
Miller says his campaign is rooted in continuity: to continue stewarding the county’s finances, protect its natural resources and support public safety. He points to his experience on multiple boards and committees as preparation for advancing those goals.
He also affirmed confidence in the democratic process, stating he will accept election results and has faith in how local elections are conducted.
Strengths and challenges for Kankakee County
Asked to assess the county, Miller highlighted several strengths: a solid fiscal position with low debt, a diverse agricultural base, notable natural assets like the Kankakee River, strong schools and cooperative civic leadership.
He identified pressing challenges as well: rising concerns around mental health, ongoing crime issues and persistent poverty that require coordinated responses from county government and community partners.
