Patricia A. Miller, Patch Staff

Patricia A. Miller  has been a reporter and editor at a variety of publications since 1984. She started her career as a reporter at the Asbury Park Press and covered Long Beach Island, Little Egg Harbor Township, Lacey Township, Point Pleasant, Jackson Township, Toms River and Berkeley Township. She became the Ocean County government reporter for the Press in 1993, and covered the Board of Freeholders, a number of county agencies and wrote an award-winning column "Ocean Diary" each week. Pat spent the last seven years at Greater Media Newspapers and served as managing editor of the Edison/Metuchen Sentinel, the Woodbridge Sentinel and the Brick Township Bulletin during that time. Pat has won a number of awards during her time as a journalist from a variety of organizations, including the New Jersey Press Association, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the North Jersey Press Club.

She graduated from the College of New Jersey with a bachelor's degree in English and a concentration in journalism. She also holds an associate's degree from Ocean County College. 

Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.

This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.

Politics

* How would you describe your political beliefs?

A Kennedy Democrat

Religion

* How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?

Somewhat lapsed Catholic, but have a strong faith in God.

Local Hot Button Issues

What do you think are the two or three most important issues facing the community?

Taxes, taxes, taxes and declining state  aid.

* Where do you stand on each of these issues?

I believe that consolidation of municipal services and school districts throughout the state is the only solution that will save New Jersey.