Running against Karlene Osorio-Khor and 25-year incumbent Jim Atkinson for a Ward 3 seat on the Kalispell City Council, Jason Mueller doesn’t think anyone should be in office for too long.

“I’m a firm believer in term limits. A lot of people I’ve talked to feel the same way, not just locally, but at the state and federal levels as well. Nobody should be in office more than one or two terms,” said Mueller, a general contractor.

“I don’t care if it’s a politician who agrees with me or disagrees with me. Nobody should be in office longer than that.”

Mueller decided to make his first run for public office because he wants to help the community. “It’s just one of those things. I’ve served on three different volunteer fire departments. It’s my way of giving back, serving the community,” he said.

“Our Founding Fathers designed it so the average Joe could serve in political office. It’s not a lifetime appointment. I want to do it and work hard at it just to do my part.”

Mueller is a member of Kalispell’s Impact Fee Advisory Committee.

Asked about the fees at a recent candidate forum, he said he thinks the city’s impact fee methodology is flawed in that the formula can increase fees when growth slows and decrease fees as growth increases. The formula needs to be changed, Mueller said.

“At least what I would recommend is some sort of trigger mechanism, when we reach a certain point considered healthy, stable, controllable growth, maybe we increase the fees,” he said.

Mueller doesn’t mince words when asked about the city’s airport. He’s not against the facility or its users, but doesn’t see the point of spending money on an airport only to have it in the center of the city.

“I don’t see a need for spending money on a small airport that’s slowly getting engulfed by the city. I don’t like taking money from the feds, period. I think everyone can agree about all the goofy stuff that’s going on in Washington right now, and I don’t want any of that stuff attached to anything whatsoever back home here,” he said during the recent candidate forum.

Mueller said there’s no particular agenda driving his run for the City Council. “I moved here because I like it the way it is. I don’t want to change it,” he said.

Mueller plans to start knocking on doors in coming weeks as Election Day approaches.

He said his small business background gives him a good handle on fiscal responsibility, he believes in smaller government and he thinks people know how to spend their money better than the government does.

“I’m not agenda-driven. I don’t have a bunch of things driving me to get into office. As things come up, I’d like to address them in a fair, conscientious manner. That’s about the extent of it. I’m always open to suggestions and concerns,” Mueller said. “I’m just an average Joe trying to step up and do his civic duty.”

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