Results from Ketchum's municipal election were canvassed two days after ballots were cast, verifying a shake up at the city's helm.
City Council members and Mayor Ed Simon, who was ousted by City Council President Randy Hall, convened a special meeting Thursday, Nov. 10, to approve a resolution to accept Tuesday's results.
Voters elected Hall as mayor and chose incumbents Baird Gourlay and Ron Parsons to serve new four-year terms on the City Council, starting in January.
When it was Simon's turn to put his seal of approval on the resolution, he slammed down a big red "veto" stamp on the document.
"Just kidding," he said. "You've got to have a little fun."
Also in the running for mayor were Maurice Charlat, Mickey Garcia and Dan Stein.
Other contenders for the two City Council seats were Nan Emerick and Anne Corrock.
Simon declined to comment on the race, but he said he now intends to reinvigorate his efforts on non-political pursuits.
"I'm looking forward to practicing law full time again, and I'm now accepting new clients," he said. "I'm also debating getting a season's (ski) pass."
He said he plans to be a part of the city's future, but will weigh in as a private citizen rather than a political leader.
Charlat, who came in second in the race for mayor, said it bothered him that people invoked political party affiliation.
"I'm upset about this race," he said Thursday. "It was turned into a partisan race in the last three days. I've talked to people who have been here 30 years and they've never seen it happen this way before." One's alignment with a political party, he said, has no place in municipal elections.
"This isn't Washington, D.C.," he said. "We're talking about a little mountain town that's become divided on partisan issues. I feel that the mean-spirited, partisan politics that we see in Washington, D.C., has found its way to Ketchum and I'm sad about that. I don't like it. I didn't bring it here."
Parsons, who before Election Day felt upbeat about his chances, attributed his victory to his many years living and working in the community.
"I had experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission and a short stint on the council," he said. "I think that helped. (And) I've been in situations in the community where I worked with people on a lot of different levels. I think my relationships with them ... a level of trust ... carried over."
Corrock, who came in third, said she was pleased with the 457 votes cast in her favor.
"Obviously, I wish I had more," she said. "At the same time, with 457, I feel like I had strong support. I feel good about those votes. They were educated votes."
Once Hall takes his seat as mayor in January, he will recommend a person to fill his council seat. The City Council has to approve the selection.
Corrock said that with her third-place showing, she is a natural choice.
"I'm ready and willing," she said.
She hadn't talked with Hall about the prospect, "but I hope to soon," she said Wednesday.
As for Hall, he said he has not given much thought to his recommendation.
"I'll find as a replacement for my seat someone with the same values," he said Tuesday after election results were announced.
Appointees are required only to have the same eligibility as voters: They must have been Ketchum residents for at least 30 days, be 18 years of age or older and be a U.S. citizen, according to the Ketchum City Clerk's office.
Hall was appointed to the City Council in 1998 to fill a vacancy. He had run for the seat a year earlier, coming in third place in a race for two open seats. He was elected to the position in 1999.
