Democratic Assemblyman Cameron “C.H.” Miller says he’s resigning from the Legislature to seek the Las Vegas City Council seat held by Cedric Crear, who is running for mayor.

Miller, 43, shared the news with The Nevada Independent in an interview Friday, saying his growing family and a plan to move was the motivation behind the decision. He will be the 13th lawmaker so far who is not expected to return to their legislative seat in 2025, either because of term limits, a resignation or a run for another office. 

The Ward 5 region includes areas of downtown Las Vegas, neighborhoods in the northwestern part of the valley and the Historic Westside, which is the subject of redevelopment through the HUNDRED Plan, also known as the Historic Urban Neighborhood Design Redevelopment plan, after decades of blight, neighborhood shrinkage and lack of investment.

Ward 5 has about 113,950 people, and, according to 2020 data from the Prison Policy Initiative, the region had the highest number of people in state prison — 786 compared with a low of 149 in Ward 2. Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average median household income in the area is $25,000 a year, or half of the city’s overall average.

“I think that, uniquely, Ward 5 and the west side is poised for a great renaissance,” Miller said. “And I think the HUNDRED Plan is part of that. Obviously, there needs to be some additional conversation with [the] community on how we continue to step into that renaissance era.”

He has worked as a cosmetologist and filmmaker. He was appointed CEO of the Urban Chamber last December. 

Miller — who said he isn’t afraid to go after “big interests” — won the Assembly District 7 seat in 2020 against Republican Anthony Palmer, gaining 68 percent of the vote in the mostly Democratic area. In the 2022 election cycle, Palmer challenged Miller again and lost by 27 percentage points.

But he will resign, becoming the third incumbent to vacate their seat at the statehouse  before their current term ended. He is one of four Democrats who have come under scrutiny by a Gov. Joe Lombardo-backed PAC over his votes on “Christmas tree” legislation that benefited nonprofits including an organization he works for. 

“​​It's not uncommon,” he said about lawmakers voting on policy that benefits their employers. “I think that a few people want to make a very targeted attack on the folks on the other side of the aisle.”

Miller said during his time at the Legislature, he believes he continuously defied the odds by sponsoring successful bills that had long-standing opposition such as AJR5, a proposed constitutional amendment that could legalize a Nevada-based lottery program if it passes another vote of the Legislature in 2025 and then a statewide vote.

He said the policy will be in the hands of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and that he trusts they will get it across the finish line.

Miller said working at the state level on sensitive issues such as the “historical” passage of AB230 — a bill he sponsored in the 2021 legislative session that requires that juveniles see a juvenile judge for certain crimes as opposed to being automatically charged as adults — prepared him for city leadership.

“This was historic when it passed, because people have been trying to do it and it wasn't successful because there were interests aligned that said, ‘This isn't what we're doing,’” he said.

Miller also touted his support for AB32, a bill that went after abusive tow truck operations that removed cars from apartment buildings if they weren’t registered. 

“We put in some consumer protections for folks whose cars were parked properly in their parking stalls,” he said. “Y'all are driving through communities at 3 o'clock in the morning towing people's cars. When you really look at it, people not having their car registered is more of a sign of financial hardship.”

Updated at 1:20 p.m. on 11/27/23 to correct that Miller is the third lawmaker to resign mid-term.