Former state Sen. Ken Miller from Laurel says he will benefit from the abundance of Republican gubernatorial candidates because he has been focused on face-to-face, grass-roots campaigning since June 2010.

The primary race now has nine candidates, including Miller, state Sen. Jeff Essmann of Billings, Bob Fanning of Pray, Neil Livingstone of Helena, former county Commissioner Jim O’Hara of Fort Benton, former state Sen. Corey Stapleton of Billings, Drew Turiano of Helena, former Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch and former Montana Congressman Rick Hill, who often is referred to as the front-runner.

But Miller doesn’t see it that way, believing he is the favorite of an energized tea party base and he predicts his competition will split support from other voters.

“I have no doubt that we have a large lead with that grass-roots support,” Miller said at a meeting with the Inter Lake editorial board this week. “The Miller campaign wins when there are so many candidates.”

Although he is a former chairman of the state Republican Party, he does not consider himself to be the GOP establishment candidate.

“I’m not the party pick. I am not the party insider,” he said. “I am the grass-roots candidate.”

And Miller sees this as a good time for a grass-roots candidate in Montana politics. He made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2004, but he said this time around is different with people previously uninvolved in politics, including independents and Democrats, who now are engaged.

Those voters, he said, will support a conservative like him because there are common goals.

“By large margins, people want to see accountability in government,” he said.

Miller contends that most voters are on board with him regarding social issues such as his opposition to laws that would allow same-sex marriage.

Mainly, he said, voters want to see a growing economy with more and better jobs, and a more efficient and accountable state government.

“We’re going to bring a very strong business approach to state government because that’s what I know,” said Miller, a construction contractor and owner of businesses including a furniture store, a wood products business and a family dairy.

“People say, ‘You can’t fire a state employee’ and I say, ‘You watch me,’” Miller said, insisting that state employees need to be held to the same standards as private sector workers.

Miller said he would cut the governor’s budget by 10 percent “just to set an example” and he would pursue some across-the-board cuts as well as targeted cuts in state government spending.

Regarding jobs and the economy, Miller stridently believes that clearing the way for natural resource development is the answer. He said there is no reason why Montana cannot have resource development success similar to neighboring North Dakota or Wyoming, with benefits to schools, local governments and taxpayers.

Miller said there is an “attitude problem” in Montana that has allowed permitting agencies, boards and courts to hinder resource development.

“We’ve allowed a few radical environmentalists to set the course for what happens in this state,” he said, adding that he would support legislation that would streamline permitting and litigation to foster a more predictable regulatory environment.

“Once investors see that, they’ll start coming to this state,” he said.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.