For the week of October 22 - 28, 2003

Two seek Sun Valley’s open Seat 1

Boand and Colesworthy ramp up
City Council campaigns

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

With Sun Valley City Council President Latham Williams vacating his seat in a move to become the next mayor, the composition of the four-person council will certainly change after the Nov. 4 city elections.

In an emerging race for Seat 1 on the panel, Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioner Blair Boand is competing against businessman Matthew Colesworthy.

Boand this week said his experience in city government has provided him with the skills necessary to serve effectively on the city’s legislative panel. "I know the workings," he said. "I would be effective Day 1 if I was elected to City Council. I wouldn’t need any ramp-up time."

Colesworthy said that his experience in the securities industry has afforded him with a wealth of skills that would be effective in managing budgets and developing sound policies. "I believe I bring leadership and experience from a businessman’s perspective," he said.

 

Boand’s platform

Boand, 54, is an 11-year resident of Sun Valley. He is a captain of the Sun Valley Fire Department, a member of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol, and a partner in Mountain Estates Property Management, based in Sun Valley.

Boand has served on the Sun Valley P&Z since 1999. In the last year, he has voted against approval of two controversial development projects: the proposed Sun Villas project in Elkhorn Village and the proposed Phase 5 of Crown Ranch subdivision.

Boand said that if he is elected to serve on the City Council he would strive to consider the concerns of citizens in all of his decisions. "I will not put myself before the will of the people," he said. "I’ll listen to you."

Boand said he would like to work with the council to:

• Integrate the city’s new ordinances governing hillsides and commercial-zoned areas—as well as a forthcoming Sun Valley Co. 50-year master plan—into an update of the city’s comprehensive plan.
  
   
• Support a recently appointed citizen’s committee convened to oversee the use of the city’s five-acre open space parcel on Sun Valley Road.
  
   
• Ensure that the city watch over developments to see that all conditions of approval are met and implemented.
  
   
• To provide a quality living and working environment in the city.

Boand said he believes the most important overall goal for the city of Sun Valley is to manage growth in a manner that respects property rights and public concerns. "Developments should be appropriate so they fit with the look and feel of Sun Valley and what we have in our ordinances."

 

Colesworthy’s platform

Colesworthy, 49, is an associate vice president at the A.G. Edwards investment firm in Ketchum and a 10-year volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Ketchum Fire Department.

He is a board member of the Ketchum-Sun Valley Rotary Club and a former president of the Sagehill Homeowners Association. He has lived in Sun Valley for 10 years.

Colesworthy said he believes his diversity of experience in community affairs, combined with his knowledge of financial matters, would make him an effective council member. "I bring the ability to negotiate to the table," he said.

If elected to the council, Colesworthy said he would aim to:

• Ensure an update of the Sun Valley Comprehensive Plan properly addresses proposed changes in Elkhorn Village and proposed development in the forthcoming Sun Valley Co. 50-year master plan.
  
   
• Acquire affordable housing for the city, possibly through purchasing existing units in central Elkhorn, rather than developing new units.
  
   
• Use his knowledge of real-estate issues to educate the public about how property throughout the city is zoned.

Colesworthy said he would work to protect the rights of landowners while also advocating responsible development. "I’m not pro developer, but I’m for common sense," he said.

In assessing two controversial projects that faced Sun Valley in recent years, Colesworthy said he believes that the city acted appropriately in denying the proposed Triumph Springs project and also acted appropriately in approving Phase 4 of Crown Ranch subdivision.

Colesworthy noted that he is prepared to listen to the public. "Open dialogue and regular communication with voters is key to effective government."

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.