EAGLE RIVER – Charles Miller has been an attorney for more than 34 years, and now he’s hoping he can add prosecuting attorney to his list of experiences.

Miller, who has a practice in Calumet which includes bankruptcy, contracts, civil and administrative litigation, among other issues, said seeking the position of Keweenaw County Prosecuting Attorney is a good opportunity for him.

“I believe I’m the best qualified person for the job,” he said. “It’s important for me that the county has the best possible person in the position.”

Miller said he’s running as a Democrat.

As of Monday, Keweenaw County Clerk Julie Carlson said Miller was the only person filing to run for the prosecuting attorney position.

Last March the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board suspended Keweenaw County Prosecuting Attorney Jaaskelainen’s license to practice law for 180 days. The order required Jaaskelainen to petition for reinstatement.

Also in March, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette appointed Houghton County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Makinen to replace Donna Jaaskelainen during the period her license was suspended. The reason for the suspension of Jaaskelainen’s license was because she neglected cases and didn’t keep clients informed of the status of their cases.

Jaaskelainen’s term ends this year. It’s unkown if she will be seeking re-election.

Miller, who was born in Detroit, said he graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1981 and went to work soon after.

“I became an attorney later that year,” he said.

From 1981 to 1996, Miller said he practiced law downstate. From 1997 to 2011, he lived in North Carolina. He and his wife, Jane, have been living fulltime at Lake Medora since 2011.

Miller said he thinks it’s important for the prosecuting attorney to have a good relationship with the sheriff. He’s talked to Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti, who will be retiring at the end of this year.

He thinks his broad experience and the fact he’s well known will benefit him as prosecuting attorney, Miller said.

“I have an excellent reputation,” he said. “I have very broad experience in and out of court.”

Miller said the prosecuting attorney is also responsible for civil matters, and in that capacity, if elected he would like to work with the Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners regarding the issues facing the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

Miller has a website dedicated to his seeking the prosecuting attorney position at millerforprosecutor.com.

He’s looking forward to the election campaign, Miller said.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” he said.