Mike Mueller
Republican · SD
Mike Mueller is a retired mechanical engineer with 37 years in facilities management and construction, and a former West Dakota Water Development District director. He wants zero-based county budgets and a monthly evening commission meeting.
Where Mike Mueller stands, based on their records
Opposes
Environment and Public Health (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 oppose
Voted with a 6-3 majority of the water district board to spend up to $7,500 in district tax money on a lawyer. The lawyer argued the board's petition asking the state to rule that counties and cities cannot require older septic systems to be permitted, pumped, and inspected.
October 9, 2018Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 3 oppose
Voted for a motion to set aside $100,000 of water district tax money for a possible class-action lawsuit against the Rapid City Journal over its news coverage. The motion failed 3-6. He then voted for a letter asking the paper to retract stories, which passed 6-3.
December 11, 2018Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Voted with a 6-3 majority of the water district board to spend up to $7,500 in district tax money on a lawyer. The lawyer argued the board's petition asking the state to rule that counties and cities cannot require older septic systems to be permitted, pumped, and inspected.
October 9, 2018Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
As chairman of the West Dakota Water Development District board, cast the deciding vote against paying the district's $14,785 share for two Black Hills stream gauges. The 4-4 tie ended funding the board had provided for 32 years.
October 10, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Voted to keep the water district's share of funding for two U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges above Deerfield Lake and Pactola Reservoir. He had voted against the funding in July. The August vote passed 5-3.
August 8, 2017Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Received an endorsement for Pennington County Commission from Nathan Gjovik, a former fellow water district board member, in a Rapid City Journal letter.
May 30, 2026
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Spoke for South Dakota Citizens for Liberty at the Pennington County Commission in support of a citizen petition asking State's Attorney Mark Vargo to resign after he was appointed state attorney general. The commission rejected the petition 3-1.
July 19, 2022
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Led South Dakota Citizens for Liberty as president when it released its 2019 scorecard rating state legislators. The scorecard gave his wife, Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller, a perfect score without disclosing the marriage. The group's lobbyist said he had no role in compiling it.
July 22, 2019
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Lost re-election as the Area 3 director of the West Dakota Water Development District to Dan Driscoll, 1,969 votes (58.4%) to 1,404 (41.6%).
November 6, 2018
Source: penningtoncountysd.documents-on-demand.com
Published a Rapid City Journal letter defending South Dakota Citizens for Liberty's petition drive that put a Rapid City water ordinance to a public vote. The letter also defended the group's opposition to a proposed new arena.
February 16, 2018
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
As president of South Dakota Citizens for Liberty, published a Rapid City Journal letter backing state Rep. Lynne DiSanto after criticism of a Facebook post she shared.
September 28, 2017
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Won election as the Area 3 director of the West Dakota Water Development District, a publicly elected board that funds water projects with a local property tax. He received 1,514 votes (69.4%) to James R. Hawke's 667.
November 4, 2014
Source: penningtoncountysd.documents-on-demand.com
Became president of South Dakota Citizens for Liberty, a Rapid City conservative political group, after its president resigned. He had been the group's vice president.
January 7, 2012
Source: rapidcityjournal.com
Past race Mike Mueller ran in:
- Pennington County Commissioner, District 1 · November 3, 2026 · Pennington County, South Dakota