Friday, November 11, 2005

Growth, development on minds of Ketchum voters


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

With the Ketchum mayoral and council elections a done deal, residents are setting their sights on what's ahead. And for many of them, the issue of growth will be a determining factor in how they judge their elected leaders.

"There's a lot of problems here," said Michael Ripley. "The growth over there at Trail Creek (on the south end of town). They're putting them all on top of each other. It looks like a ghetto. They're stacking them up like cord wood."

Some growth is to be expected, he said. But the rapid growth seen in the area is cause for concern.

"It's out of control," he said. "(Local politicians) don't know how to take control. They're all nice people, but they have people coming in from out of state who are sharks and know how to take advantage of people. You (just) try to elect the ones you think will do the job."

Ripley voted for Maurice Charlat for mayor, but thinks Randy Hall will do a good job.

"I vote in every election, whether I have any issues or not," he said.

Resident Steve McCoy was pleased with the election results, but sees that challenges lie ahead.

"I'm happy for Randy Hall," he said. "There are pros and cons to everything. You have to be able to adapt to a growing community."

David Hurd, who was prompted to action as a grass-roots organizer by the proposed Warm Springs Ranch redevelopment project, said the experience brought by the winners will help the city move forward with pressing issues.

"For the most part, I'm ecstatic," he said. "If there had been a big changing of the guard, it would be a long time before the reshuffling (stopped). With the core intact, they can keep moving forward. I think we're on track with the way things are happening.

"As far as results, those who won, won on their merits and positions," he said. "When confronted in the future, they can stand on that ... it's not their own personal agenda. It's why they got elected."

Inspired by words from the Dalai Lama and the Ketchum man who brought the spiritual leader to Idaho, Kiril Sokoloff, Hurd hopes political leaders from all over the valley, along with the citizenry, will work together.

"We're from different cities and the county," he said, "but in the end we're all a community."




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