For the week of June 25 - July 1, 2003

Hailey Mayor Bryant kicks off election campaign.

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

Appointed to complete the term of resigned Mayor Al Lindley, Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant is running for election to the position in November.

"I am officially announcing that I will be a candidate for mayor in November," she said Friday, June 20, at a gathering of nearly 100 supporters in front of the play structure at Hop Porter Park.

McBryant told those assembled on the chilly morning that she has been in Hailey for 23 years, and it is still the type of town she wants to live in.

"Twenty years ago this was a town of 1,500 people," she said. "As a town of 7,000 I still love it."

McBryant said her goal was to direct the council, the planning and zoning commission and volunteer groups to take "preemptive action" when it comes to managing growth in the valley.

"We need to anticipate growth before it comes, and be prepared to handle it while maintaining the charm that makes our city so desirable," she said.

So far McBryant has no official rivals, but former Mayor Al Lindley, whom McBryant succeeded, is considering running.

"I’m going to explore the possibility to see if the support I have had before is still there," he said.

Lindley said he would like to work together with the other mayors to begin "pulling the valley together."

"I care a lot for Hailey," he said. "I want to do what I can for it in the future."

Lindley expects to announce his campaign intentions in July.

McBryant has similar hopes of uniting various branches of government around a common cause and she has received the endorsement of at least a dozen community leaders, including the entire city council, the county commissioners, Friedman Memorial Airport Authority commissioner Len Harlig, State Sen. Clint Stennett and State Rep. Wendy Jaquet.

"We need to work together," McBryant said, stressing the importance of openness and communication. "At the end of the day we live in a small town. (We can’t be) secretly following separate agendas."

McBryant’s supporters were vocal about her strengths at the campaign event.

"She has not only risen to the occasion (of her appointment to Mayor), she has shown abilities we always thought were there," said Hailey councilwoman Martha Burke. "I was concerned she might say, "I can’t do this.""

But, McBryant has found time to be a public servant.

"I am a long time supporter of Susan’s from the early P & Z days," said Blaine County Commissioner Mary Ann Mix.

"We have a bond that goes way back. I am thrilled she wants to take this step. She is good at balancing."

"In the last seven months I’ve seen her make tremendous progress," said Hailey councilwoman Carol Brown. "I am fortunate to work with Susan."

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