Gov. Miller backed lottery to help fund scholarships

ATLANTA» As Georgia’s governor, Zell Miller successfully championed selling lottery tickets to fund scholarships in a Bible belt state and lost a fight to change the Confederatethemed state flag. As a U.S. senator, he enraged fellow Democrats with a primetime convention speech endorsing the re-election of President George W. Bush.

Time and again, Miller proved himself a stubbornly independent Southern Democrat during a political career that spanned four decades. Miller died Friday at age 86.

“He had an independent streak that was governed by what he thought was right,” said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican who befriended Miller after a bitter political rivalry. “We need more people like him.”

Miller served as Georgia’s governor from 1991 to 1999. He came out of retirement in 2000 at age 68 to fill the final four years of a U.S. Senate term.

Miller had retreated from public view in the past year after his family revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He died at home surrounded by three generations of family, grandson Bryan Miller said.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

“Georgia has lost a favorite son and a true statesman, and I’ve lost a dear friend,” Republican Gov. Nathan Deal said. “Zell’s legacy is unequaled and his accomplishments in public service are innumerable. Without question, our state and our people are better off because of him.”

Bush sent condolences from Texas, calling Miller “an example of service before self, country before party, principle before poll.”

Miller drew praise from another former president, fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter, who served alongside Miller as a state senator in the 1960s.

“Growing up in the hills of north Georgia gave Zell a straight-talking approach to politics that left no one in doubt of his views on any subject,” the 93-year-old former president said.

Miller was considered one of the state’s most successful and popular modern chief executives, compiling a progressive record in education and tax policy.

His signature accomplishment was the HOPE scholarship, which paid college tuition for Georgia students maintaining a “B’’ average and was funded by establishing a state lottery.

Religious conservatives fought the effort, equating the lottery with gambling, but Miller won approval from the legislature and Georgia voters.