For the week of November 12 - 18, 2003

Hailey government
set for four years

Growth management key to success

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey City Council planned to canvass the results of last week’s municipal elections at a special city council meeting focused on annexation requests Tuesday, Nov. 10. The results of the election were certified Nov. 4 by the election board, executed by election judge Colleen Teply and accepted by Hailey City Clerk Heather Dawson.

Incumbent Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant defeated former mayor Al Lindley with 743 votes to Lindley’s 238 votes and the two city council seats up for election were both unopposed for incumbent candidates Carol Brown and Rick Davis. Brown, running for council Seat 4, received 844 votes. Davis, running for council Seat 3, received 823.

All three elected officials will serve a four-year term and they each have said they are looking forward to the long session of planning for the city and improving ways to manage growth.

"It is exciting to have four years," said councilwoman Carol Brown who was appointed to the position for her current term last November to fill a vacant position. "Now I get to think long term."

"The election was a learning experience for me," she added. "I got out there and knocked on a lot of doors."

Even though Brown ran unopposed, she said she benefited from meeting the voters and getting to know her constituents. "It was still important to get out there and show people I am taking the job seriously."

She said supporting McBryant in the race for mayor was an easy decision.

"Don (Keirn) drafted the letter (of unanimous council support for McBryant)," she said. "I felt so strongly (about supporting her). She is a superb leader. She’s the most organized person you will ever meet."

Lindley was disappointed by the results, but he did attend the first city council meeting after the election Monday, Nov. 9, to offer public comment as a "taxpayer" on annexation and zoning issues heard by the council.

From the pool of 2,965 residents registered to vote, including 123 Election Day registrants, the election saw 990 ballots cast or nearly 35 percent of registered voters. Only one ballot was spoiled and of the 66 absentee ballots requested 61 were returned.

"That was a pretty good turnout," said Blaine County Commissioner Mary Ann Mix during a break from county business Monday.

The last election had only a 15 percent turnout, Dawson said.

"I have a lot of big plans," McBryant said after Monday’s city council meeting. She and other council members said they are looking forward to what may be achieved now that the city has a new city administrator and the Hailey Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director. "I look forward to having four years to plan long term," she said.

"I was extremely pleased with the way the election went," Davis said. "In the next four years we are going to make huge strides in the (progress) of the city. Hopefully, the citizens of Hailey will see positive changes."

 

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