Kalispell City Council member Jeff Zauner said Tuesday he will not run a write-in campaign for re-election. The campaign would have pitted Zauner against Chad Graham, who is running unopposed for a Ward 2 seat on the City Council.

“After having multiple conversations with Mr. Graham and having lunch with him and some other business people, I think Chad will do a good job. He is familiar with how the city is run. He sits on the Kalispell Planning Board and the Impact Fee Advisory Committee, so it’s not like he’s new to city government,” Zauner said.

Zauner added: “And I think when the voters vote to support the council action on the airport, Graham will be committed to pursuing the [Federal Aviation Administration] improvements and putting that issue to rest.”

Zauner supported the City Council’s 5-4 decision last summer to pursue a realignment and expansion of Kalispell City Airport through the federal Airport Improvement Program. Graham spearheaded a successful signature drive to put that City Council decision on the ballot for voters to repeal or uphold this November.

“I think repeal will happen, and I oppose the airport expansion, but I follow the will of the people on something like this,” Graham said.

There are only two contested races in Kalispell. In Ward 3, incumbent Jim Atkinson is running against Karlene Osorio-Khor and Jason Mueller. In Ward 1, Joe Apple and Sandy Carlson are running for an open seat. Apple tried to withdraw from the election but cannot remove his name from the ballot.

The deadline to declare a write-in campaign with the Flathead County Election Department is Friday, Oct. 4.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.