Peters resigns from council
The Kalispell City Council anticipates welcoming a new member now that Councilman Jayson Peters has resigned.
The councilman resigned during Tuesday night's meeting.
Peters was one of two representatives of Ward IV, but a recent move to the west side of Kalispell means he had to step down from the council.
The council has 30 days to appoint a new member. Mayor Pam Kennedy said she'll suggest that the council fill the position with the lone candidate running for representative of Ward IV during the November election.
Tim Kluesner is the only person who's filed for the position. Kluesner is a Kalispell native who is a sales and marketing representative for Merlin Information Systems.
Tapping Kluesner for the position means he can "get involved with discussions and decisions now," Kennedy said.
Peters' term would have ended in December, so it makes sense for the council to appoint Kluesner to give him a jump-start on the next council term, which - barring a landslide write-in campaign - he's sure to win as the uncontested candidate, Kennedy said.
Candidates can vie for write-in status if they file with the Flathead County Election Department a declaration of their intent to do so by 5 p.m. Oct. 24. The election is Nov. 8.
The council likely will approve Kluesner's appointment during an upcoming meeting. The council does, however, have the option of soliciting someone else to serve the remainder of Peters' term, Kennedy said.
Kluesner is up for the task if the council opts to appoint him.
"If the city bylaws allow that," he said, "than I'm certainly ready and willing to assume that (responsibility)."
Peters hopes he'll join Kluesner and the other council members back at City Hall before long and plans to make the most of his time off.
"I'm going to be out campaigning," he said.
He is running against incumbent councilman Jim Atkinson for the Ward III representative position.
Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com.