Mullan City Council Candidate: Kjell Truesdell

Kjell Truesdell, 43, is running for one of two open Mullan City Council positions and his intention if elected is to continue to fuse a 100-plus-year-old community by encouraging a commitment of accountability, while negating bitching and complaining about local government.

"I will keep the interests of our town rooted as we continue to evolve taking into consideration our varied backgrounds — everyone has a story," he said.

Truesdell is the youngest of four siblings (Karl, Kris and Kara Truesdell) and is married to his wife, Kristine Decker, who has been by his side since high school. Together, they call Mullan home and are surrounded by his in-laws (Rick and Patricia Decker); grandmother-in-law (Mrs. Norma Decker); and their fur boy, Charlie.

His education includes graduating from Mullan High School in 1997, University of Idaho in 2002, and Lewis-Clark State College in 2004.

As a third generation Mullanite, Truesdell takes pride living in Mullan and loves spending time "skiing, fishing, hunting, and recreating while residing in our spectacular county."

While he is currently employed at F&H Mine Supply Inc., he also brings with him 21 years of combined experience as a seasonal firefighter, an Assistant Fire Warden, and as Fire Warden for the Cataldo Forest Protective District. He is also a volunteer for the Mullan Volunteer Fire Department as the Assistant Fire Chief and serves as an alternate board member of the Shoshone County Ambulance Service District.

In addition to running because of his passion for the city he grew up in, Truesdell is trying to fill what he explains as a huge void left by City Councilman Dale Noordam, "whose untimely passing hit our community hard."

His hope will be to maintain even a portion of the level of passion that the late councilman brought with him.