Sun Valley and Ketchum candidates debate issues
Ketchum and Sun Valley candidates differ on affordable housing views
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Candidates for Sun Valley and Ketchum city council seats faced crowds
of curious and question-happy local residents last week for the Idaho Mountain Express-sponsored
Politics and Pizza political forums.
Tuesday evening those individuals bidding for Sun Valley City Council
and mayor seats gathered at Sun Valley City Hall; and Wednesday, candidates for Ketchum
City Council seats were present at Ketchum City Hall.
Mountain Express publisher Pam Morris moderated both forums
which focues on Wood River Valley issues.
Candidates were in general agreement on some issues, including the
Blaine County Recreation District’s proposed recreation bond. All eight said they are
in favor of passing it.
There was, however, a key difference between the two cities’
candidates.
While all three Ketchum candidates—Sue Noel, Randy Hall and
Maurice Charlat—said they support affordable housing inside Ketchum’s city
limits, four of Sun Valley’s candidates—Milton Adam, Nicholas Parker, Latham
Williams and Lud Renick—said they do not approve of affordable housing inside Sun
Valley’s city limits, unless it is for city employees.
Sun Valley mayoral candidate and current city councilman David Wilson
said that the Sun Valley Co. should be encouraged to provide more employee housing.
"I find little support for hiding housing right next to where you
work," Adam said.
"It’s not un-American to go commute," Parker joined in.
Sun Valley’s candidates primarily differed on one issue, which was
the city’s recent decision to back Horizon Air’s potential losses when the
company flies extra planes into Hailey this winter.
"My initial gut reaction was you can’t give government money
to a private entity," Parker said. He then cited the Idaho Constitution to back his
stance.
Williams disagreed.
"Nationwide skier numbers are flat. I think it’s an
appropriate investment in the future of our community," he said.
Renick declined to comment on the issue, and Adam said he supports the
council’s decision to back Horizon’s potential shortfall.
Ketchum’s candidates spoke on several issues including McHanville,
parking, Ketchum’s decision not to back Horizon Air’s potential financial
shortfall and the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce’s share of the city’s
local option tax (LOT).
Noel said she wants the city to annex McHanville to gain more control
over the entrance to Ketchum.
"We have to watch the development of that area very
carefully," she said. "We have to be careful that the hospital doesn’t
break the dam for commercial development on Highway 75."
Hall said he would like to have more control over McHanville, but is
not in favor of forced annexation. He said all property owners and stakeholders should be
in agreement before the city takes action.
Charlat said he isn’t sure if he wants to see a commercial center
in McHanville or not. Before taking a position, the city needs to do a lot of homework, he
said.
When asked what Ketchum is, Ketchum’s candidates agreed that it is
the commercial and cultural center of the Wood River Valley.
"Ketchum has a large sense of community. We are the resort in a
way. Culture, gallery walks, restaurants—it’s a very vital part of our
community," Hall said.
Mountain Express publisher Morris said the newspaper hosts the
political forums as a public service to get the public involved.
"We believe there has to be a non-partisan forum where the voters
can see and hear the candidates," she said.
