Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Schoen wins Dist. 1 race; LOT passes in Hailey


By JASON KAUFFMAN
and STEVE BENSON
Express Staff Writers

 Hailey voters turned out in droves Tuesday to reject an initiative request to change the city’s form of government and to approve a local option tax to help fund city services. Election officials were inundated with 877 paper ballots, compared to a voter turnout of only 85 in the city’s last election.

      Meanwhile, in early returns from Blaine County’s primary election, Larry Schoen appeared to have scored a decisive victory over three other Democratic candidates for county commissioner in District 1, which covers the south county.

      Schoen, chairman of the Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission, was challenged by Bellevue City Councilwoman Tammy Eaton, backcountry outfitter James Super and Bellevue businessman Carl Johnston in the only contested race at the county level.

      With 12 of 15 precincts reporting, Schoen received 459 votes. Next closest was Eaton with 195 votes, followed by Super with 178, and Johnston with 38. Votes from Hailey precincts 4 and 2 and absentees ballots remained to be counted.

      Schoen will face off against Republican candidate Dale Ewersen, a former Bellevue mayor and city councilman, in the November general election.

      Hailey voters said emphatically yes to allow Hailey to use a predicted $326,250 in annual funds from the local option tax to pay for things like infrastructure improvement projects, emergency services, public transit and city promotion. The measure passed with 597 for the LOT and 268 against it.

      Under the LOT ordinance Hailey will collect the following taxes: 

• A rental vehicle tax of 3 percent. 

• A hotel and motel room tax of 3 percent. 

• A liquor by-the-drink tax of 2 percent.

• A restaurant tax of 1 percent.

      Hailey voters also were emphatic in saying they did not want to change their present form of government. The measure failed with 586 voting no and 278 voting yes.

      The initiative was proposed by former Hailey Mayor Al Lindley in an attempt to replace the current Mayor-City Council form of government with a City Council- City Manager form of government.




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