Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Hall scores decisive win in Ketchum mayoral race

Gourlay and Parsons take City Council seats


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

Council President Randy Hall was elected Tuesday, Nov. 8, as Ketchum's new mayor, ousting incumbent and political rival Ed Simon.

"I'm feeling great," Hall said Tuesday night. "It was a long, hard road. I'm glad we crossed the finish line first."

Incumbent Councilmen Baird Gourlay and Ron Parsons bested two other contenders to hold on to their seats on the Ketchum City Council.

Hall came out on top with 503 votes. Maurice Charlat took second place, garnering 344 votes. Simon received 142 votes. Mickey Garcia garnered 50 votes, and Dan Stein came in with 32 votes.

In the council race, Gourlay received the most votes, with a total of 698. Parsons received 628. Anne Corrock got 457, while 208 people voted for Nan Emerick.

"It's a humbling experience," Hall added. "I know my team, my supporters, the volunteers never gave up on me. They continued to work and we kept our heads high. We ran a positive campaign."

Hall will make a recommendation to the council for his replacement when he assumes office in January, but said he has no one in mind yet.

"That's the truth," he said. "I was afraid to let myself go there."

Of Ketchum's 2,110 registered voters, 51 percent, or 1,082 people cast ballots, according to the City Clerk's office. Staff counted 163 absentee ballots.

Simon could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Recent hot-button issues and topics from years past were on the minds of Ketchum voters as they headed to the polls Tuesday for the municipal election.

Some Ketchum residents voted based on personal relationships cultivated over the years. Other people's votes were borne of frustration with elected officials' relationships with one another.

"After watching the way the City Council acted in the last couple of years ... it was embarrassing," voter Damon Ferrari said Tuesday afternoon. Factious relations and lawsuits should not be a part of small-town politics, he said.

"For such a small community, I don't think we need that."

He also counted as important issues affordable housing and money management.

Betty Murphy, exiting the polling place soon after Ferrari, said one of her top issues is returning the charm and cohesiveness to Ketchum.

"The feeling of the underlying community has weakened," she said.

"I come to a lot of the meetings," she added. "I know the incumbents and a couple of the (challengers). I listened very carefully to what they said."

As chairwoman of the Blaine County Democrats, Murphy is also guided by another point: "I also know who's a Democrat and who's a Republican," she said.

Other voters were looking for a change.

"I feel we need some new blood in there-a sense of direction and leadership," said Robbie Betts. "We need a good manager overall, especially for mayor."

Dick Dahlgren said although he's a Republican, he didn't vote for Maurice Charlat, the chairman of the Blaine County Republicans.

"(I) didn't want a country club Republican to be elected," he said.

Although municipal elections are non-partisan, Charlat's position with the Blaine County Republicans is known by many residents.

Dahlgren said he voted for Hall.

"He isn't the ideal candidate, but he's better than the others," Dahlgren said. "I like the way he conducted himself in contentious issues. He came out as an honorable guy."

Tristan Potters cited parental influence in his decision to vote, as well as familiarity with the candidates.

"I know them," he said. "I know the type of people they are."

Kelly Feldman said "civic duty" brought her to the polls.

"I live here and I feel it's my duty to help," she said. "You can't complain if you're not part of the process."

A mayoral election race always generates heavier turnout than when only council seats are on the ballot, said Ketchum City Clerk Sandra Cady.

"It's more controversial," she said.

Activity at City Hall Tuesday morning was so brisk that the county had to deliver to Ketchum and Sun Valley extra batches of "I voted" stickers.

During the mayoral election of 2001, 56 percent, or 1,050 of 1,862 registered voters, cast ballots.

In contrast, during the general election of 2003, only 34 percent of registered Ketchum voters went to the polls.




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