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City Council profile: Stephen Mueller

Stephen Mueller, a local pharmacist, is running for one of two seats on the Homer City Council. Mueller is running for his first time, and wants to focus his message on capital projects, new sources of income and a cautious marijuana policy.

Current Attorney General Jeff Sessions is outspoken against states that allow recreational marijuana.  He recently sent the governors of Washington and Colorado a memo stating that the Department of Justice “remains committed to enforcing” the federal ban on cannabis. Mueller is afraid that the federal government will begin cracking down on other states with legal pot like Alaska.

“As a pharmacist, and someone who has to deal with these laws,” Mueller explains, “I have this real fear that the feds will come down on the state of Alaska, and in turn, Alaska would feel compelled to create new laws, where now it’s not recreational anymore.”

The city already has taken precautions when it comes to commercial cannabis by not allowing any pot businesses to lease city property. The council is also set to vote on a recommendation to open up the Homer Spit to the industry.

Mueller also has his eye towards capital projects. With a considerable decline in the state capital budget, falling from $3.6 billion in 2013 to $1.4 billion this year, cities like Homer are bearing the most of the cost for capital improvements.

Mueller wants to look inward to find solutions.

“Not just look to the state, or the feds, to big brother to fund this for us, but to find our way ourselves. I think we have enough here that we can actually find a way to make it work,” argued Mueller.

The city has been struggling to find ways to fund a new police station, a new harbor for large vessels, and a haul out and marine repair facility.

Mueller thinks the city needs to find more revenue streams outside of tourism to make the projects a reality.

“We also have individuals that are a part of greater Homer, people who live outside the city limits but still utilize services here,” Mueller says. “I do think that many people I talk to who use our libraries, who use our services, they’d be open to ponying up to some degree.”

Mueller points to the harbormaster office on the spit as a successful project, and he would like to see similar success for future endeavors.

The city council election will take place on Tuesday Oct.3. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

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