The Making of a President

Miles Chiotti has just breezed into the coffee shop at the St. Ambrose Bookstore. Like many who run for office, he has the charming smile and charisma to win votes. And like many officeholders, he's always on the go. Between classes, meetings and phone calls to constituents, he's as busy as the president.

That is, president of the St. Ambrose Student Government Association-for now. This senior from Roanoke, Ill., who's majoring in political science and public administration, has high hopes for the future, and he's doing what he can today to prepare for it.

In October, he organized and moderated a debate between Iowa state senatorial candidates. Held in the Rogalski Center, the match-up was between incumbent Democrat Joe Seng and his Republican challenger, Mark Riley.

"I asked them about unemployment, food safety, retention of judges, and how national health care reform affects Iowa," Miles says. "They were very civil. It was a great evening."

One of the things Miles learned was how political rivals can be friends as well. "Mark has taken his dog to Joe (a veterinarian) for years," he says. "That's heartening, in our political climate. There's such divisiveness today."

Miles says the need for a balance between self-interest and social responsibility motivates his future plans, and that his experience at St. Ambrose has helped fuel his passion. "Catholic social justice teachings have helped me want to be a part of the process that advocates for people and causes," he says.

After he graduates, Miles plans to attend graduate school in public policy, work for the U.S. State Department, and bring what he learns to elective office. "I'd like to be one of the first people to run a full-scale and successful independent party national campaign," he says.

He's certainly on his way.