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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Convicted Killer Runs For Council In Airway Heights He Wants To Redeem Himself For Murder Of Rosalia Man

FROM FOR THE RECORD (Tuesday, October 28, 1997): Correction Details wrong: A volunteer firefighter in Airway Heights resigned from the position earlier this year after city officials discovered he had a prior felony conviction. A story on Monday incorrectly reported details of the departure.

A convicted killer is hoping Airway Heights voters will forgive his past and elect him to their City Council next month.

Rich Miller, 37, said he’s campaigning in Airway Heights, in part, to redeem himself for the murder of a Rosalia grain inspector in 1981.

“I want to be part of the society I lost,” Miller said.

Some of the townspeople say Miller’s character is so tainted it mocks the democratic process.

But supporters say Miller is honest, hard-working and deserves a chance to serve society.

The election Nov. 4 will answer the question: Can a man who has killed in cold blood be rehabilitated enough to capture public office?

Maybe.

Miller was the top vote-getter during the September primary in what was then a four-way race for council Position 3.

Coincidentally, the other primary winner, Gerry Gadberry, is an employee at the Airway Heights Corrections Center. Gadberry is saying little about Miller’s past.

Even so, Miller’s record is haunting him as voters in this city of 4,150 learn more about him.

At a televised City Council meeting on Oct. 13, one woman stood and announced the fact that he is a murderer.

“A lot of people in town don’t know he did it,” said Barbara Cochran, who made the comments. Cochran lost in the primary election against Miller and Gadberry, but said her statements were not made in revenge.

“I’m not trying to ruin the guy,” she said. “It’s like (the killing) is trying to be kept hush-hush.”

Miller was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting an unsuspecting husband in the man’s barn. He used the victim’s own rifle.

His life sentence was reduced when he agreed to testify in 1982 against the victim’s wife, Neva Henning, for plotting the murder. Mrs. Henning was convicted of first-degree murder largely on Miller’s testimony.

During that trial, Miller said he and Mrs. Henning were embroiled in a sexual relationship and that Mrs. Henning was abused by her husband, Duane Henning. Miller said he was offered $3,000 by Mrs. Henning to commit the crime.

Henning has denied guilt, maintaining to this day that a burglar shot her husband.

Miller was released from the state prison system in 1990 after nine years.

“I’m not proud of that,” Miller said. “I’m trying to put that behind me.”

While in prison, Miller said he worked with inmate self-help groups and was involved in puppet shows for school children in Shelton, where he spent much of the prison time.

Spokane County Auditor William Donahue said Miller had his civil rights restored by the Department of Corrections in 1993, and then registered to vote in Spokane County in 1995.

Miller is now enrolled in classes at Spokane Falls Community College where he hopes to earn a degree to become a drug and alcohol counselor.

“I’ve always wanted to help other people,” he said.

Miller has been serving on the Airway Heights Planning Commission and volunteers at the town’s community center.

“He’s been good to the community,” said Mayor Don Harmon.

Miller said he wants to end the personal attacks and bickering that have plagued the politics of Airway Heights and have recently been turned at him.

“I try to be real and positive because I was in such a negative environment for so long,” Miller said.

His opponent, Gadberry, said, “I kind of feel bad for him.”

“He did his time as far as the law is concerned,” said Gadberry, who supervises inmate work crews at the corrections center.

Gadberry can’t resist pointing out the oddity of having an ex-felon running against a prison staffer.

In a prepared statement, Gadberry said, “I believe it is ironic that the two candidates for City Council Position 3 both have an extensive background with the Department of Corrections.”

More pointed criticism is coming from other quarters.

“It was such a heinous crime,” said Elsie Patten, whose husband, Verne, lost in the primary election race for mayor.

“What he did was so terrible. He’s not a good representative of the city.”

Airway Heights was embarrassed earlier this year when the city’s volunteer fire department dismissed volunteer who was a Hells Angels motorcycle club member with a conviction for assault.

“Pretty soon, we are going to be the laughing stock of the state of Washington,” said Blue Garcia, a bartender at Little Joe’s Tavern. “What kind of an example are you showing children these days?

“Maybe I shouldn’t be so harsh about it, but if it was a loved one of mine … I’d be out hitting the streets right now campaigning against him,” she said.

Patrick Carbaugh, who supports Miller, said he believes the man deserves a chance. Carbaugh ran against Miller in the primary and lost.

Carbaugh said the two have been friends for six years, despite their running against each other. He learned about the conviction just this year.

Still, Carbaugh said, “I totally trust him.”

“We’ve got back-biters in this town,” he said. “Rich is a success (story) of the penal system, a rare success.”

, DataTimes