Councilman Kelly Miller's statement on withdrawing from City Council race:

"What I did not know when I filed my
candidacy was that my wife, Kate, had cancer. Within a very few weeks of the filing date, the doctors sat us down and prescribed a course for the months ahead."

"We have told very few people about Kates illness. She is a lovely, independent woman who preferred that this news remained private. We both believed that the campaign and thinking forward about our community
would keep us hopeful and energized as we faced the personal challenges ahead.

Yesterday, I sat with Kate through the second long day of chemo. And now I know what so many other families have painfully learned: that dealing with cancer is very, very hard and that, when it is someone you love, you must be there for them. You need to help them, in every way, stay stress free, positive and as hopeful as possible."

"Kate has been wonderful in her understanding, shared commitment and support of my varied roles as a husband, father, businessman, volunteer and city council member. So much so, that this decision to withdraw from the council race, has been incredibly difficult."

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Asheville. But after much reflection and prayer, I've decided that the most important place for me to be right now isn't on the campaign trail. It's by my wife's side. I need to stand by her as she has stood by me. I need to keep her life as free of stress as I can.Miller Statement on Withdrawal from Council Race

Posted: Friday, October 9 2009, 11:25 AM CDT