COEUR d'ALENE - Fritz Wiedenhoff believes in serving the public.

The Northern Lakes Fire Protection District Lieutenant has already made a career of it, yet the 41-year-old Wiedenhoff wants to do more as an Idaho Representative, running for District 2B seat.

"I believe in public service and customer service and I've demonstrated that in the last 12 years at the Northern Lakes Fire Protection District," he said. "I really love serving this community."

It's the first attempt at office for the Garwood resident, a North Idaho native who graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School. He said he is running to help re-connect North Idaho's "fractured" Republican party, as well as to engage the public with the legislative process.

"I don't feel like feedback is encouraged," he said of the public not being represented in Boise. He used the opinion some people had about being left out of the education reform discussion before it happen last year as an example, and said the current party seems to be somewhat split when it comes to working together.

"Am I a silver bullet to fix all the problems? Absolutely not," he said. "But I can be part of the solution."

Wiedenhoff, who graduated from North Idaho College and attended Idaho State University but did not graduate, said as a legislator he would fight for state's rights, such as trying to get federally-designated parks and lands back in Idaho's ownership. He said it should be up to the state on issues such as Endangered Species populations and contaminant cleanup in the Silver Valley.

He supported the lawmakers' decision for a new sales tax exemption for aircraft parts installed into out-of-state aircraft on grounds that it would be an economic boon, but opposed Gov. Butch Otter's tax cut for families of four that earn $100,000 or more. That cut would save those families $71 a year.

"It should apply to everyone, or no one," he said of tax cuts. "I'm all for giving it across the board, not just for this group or that group."

The married father of three is running in a crowded Republican Field with former GOP Rep. Ron Vieselmeyer, candidate Ed Morse and incumbent Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, who is being sued for back taxes by the federal government.

"I'll bring a new perspective, a new set of ethics and values," Wiedenhoff said. "I work here, I raise my family here, I pay my taxes here."