Lester Miller grew up in Macon and forged connections as a Mercer University student that opened up opportunities for his future. Since being elected mayor of Macon-Bibb County in 2020, he’s endeavored to maintain the collaborative spirit between the University and his hometown.
Miller knew by middle school that he wanted to pursue a career in law, so it became his goal to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and then a law degree at Mercer. The University was a natural fit for him, allowing him to remain a “hometown boy” and take a variety of classes through a liberal arts degree, he said. Mercer also kept him close to his high school sweetheart, Toby, whom he married his sophomore year.
“I got a chance to meet a lot of influential people at Mercer, whether it was through the Baptist Student Union or through the fraternity or through my professors,” Miller said. “So I think going to school at Mercer and being able to get those connections and be around other professional people really opened up a lot of doors for me to be able to excel.”
Among those connections was then-Mercer President Dr. Kirby Godsey, who ended up writing a law school recommendation letter for Miller. Miller graduated with his Bachelor of Science in 1991, followed by his Juris Doctor from Mercer Law School in 1994.
Miller has practiced law in Macon for over 30 years, although being mayor is currently his full-time focus. In addition to his law practice, he owns a real estate investment company, beauty shop and sports training facility. Serving his hometown has remained a priority throughout his life.
“It’s where my family is from. It’s where I raised my boys, who are both Mercer graduates. I wanted to have opportunities for them to stay in our community to enjoy the great things that I had growing up and to be able to expand on them,” he said. “Traditionally, however Mercer goes, Macon goes, and vice versa. I wanted to get involved in our community to make sure that we keep that connection, especially being a graduate of Mercer.”
Miller currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, NewTown Macon, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, Brookdale Resource Center, Museum of Aviation and 21st Century Partnership. He’s also a trustee for the Museum of Arts and Sciences and serves on the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Pedestrian Safety Review Board and Central Georgia Development Authority.
He served on the Bibb County School District Board of Education for two four-year terms, including as president. Miller said he didn’t initially consider running for mayor in the 2020 race, but members of the community encouraged him to put his name in the hat. He had a strong understanding of the school system and its challenges, and local residents told him they appreciated his leadership and the school improvements he had been a part of.
“I felt like I had done what I had set out to do in the Bibb County school system. It was a natural step upward at the time,” he said.
Miller announced his decision to run in 2017 and started his campaign in 2018, allowing him to build substantial support before the COVID-19 pandemic made meeting with people difficult. The focus of his campaign and his work as mayor has been uniting residents under “one brand.” He was re-elected for a second term in May 2024.
“What I meant by ‘one brand’ is to have everybody pulling in the right direction, advocating for Macon, welcoming people into our community, making sure we focus on some of our strong points, including tourism, and making sure we have a good quality life and a safe place for people to raise their families,” he said. “All those things kind of tied together through our first four years. We’re continuing to build on that. So the next four years, we want to make sure we finish what we started. We have a lot to be proud of.”
Since becoming mayor, Miller is especially proud to have had a hand in lowering the Macon-Bibb millage rate from 20 to 9.9 mills and increasing funding for public safety by $16 million. The county has seen continued progress in public safety as a result of the Macon Violence Prevention program.
Over the past year, a special-purpose local-option sales tax for capital improvements was approved by 83% of voters, $1.2 billion was invested in economic development, and 1,500 new jobs were added. The county also received the Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend Magazine for the Brookdale Resource Center, which supports people experiencing homelessness.
Miller has stayed connected to his alma mater over the years. He spoke during Mercer’s 2022 commencement in Macon and the 2025 Founders’ Day program. He said the Macon-Mercer partnership provides many opportunities for the community. The vision of Dr. Godsey, who is now Mercer’s chancellor, and current president William D. Underwood has resulted in growth not only for the University but Macon. In addition, Mercer provides a steady workforce of young, skilled professionals for the county.
“They like the environment we have, they like the people that we have in our community and the quality of life that we have, and they choose to stay here and make Macon their home,” Miller said. “It’s almost like a recruiting tool as well for Macon-Bibb County.”
Miller isn’t sure what the future holds for him, but he’s going to “keep every door open.” He hopes to continue building on his political work in one way or another. People have encouraged him to look into state political offices, and he’s “never going to say never.”
“Certainly, I’m going to keep my options open,” he said. “Right now, I want to be the best mayor Macon ever has, and I want to stay here as long as they allow me to do so.”
Lester Miller is among the Mercerians featured in Mercer Illustrated: The Places, People, and Experiences of a Uniquely Impactful University. This coffee table book from Mercer University Press can be ordered online. Mercer faculty, staff and students can receive a 40% discount when they order by phone at (478) 301-2880.
