Monday was transition day at the Old County Courthouse in Hailey as several officials elected to county seats in November were officially sworn into office.
But aside from Larry Schoen, none of the faces are new. And even Schoen, who was elected to the Blaine County Commission seat for District 1, is no stranger to county government.
A Democrat who owns a farm near Silver Creek, Schoen most recently served as chair of the county's Planning and Zoning Commission, where he played a major role in the contentious 2025 plan—a series of land-use ordinances designed to protect the county's natural resources and open space.
County Commissioner Sarah Michael, Assessor Valdi Pace, Clerk JoLynn Drage, Treasurer Vickie Dick and Coroner Russ Mikel were also sworn in during Monday's ceremony. All but Drage are incumbents, and only Michael, who was first elected to represent the north county, or District 3, in 2000, was challenged.
Michael defeated Independent Mickey Garcia to retain her seat.
Drage, who ran unopposed, faces the daunting task of replacing Marsha Riemann as county clerk. Riemann, a treasured member of Blaine County's government, retired after 28 years of service, eight as clerk. Drage had previously served as Blaine County's deputy auditor.
Pace, Dick and Mikel all ran unopposed to retain their previously held positions.
Tom Bowman, also a Democrat, rounds out the three-member County Commission. First elected in 2004, Bowman will serve as chairman of the commission—a rotating position—for the next two years.
Schoen, who defeated Bellevue Republican Dale Ewersen, said the county is facing a plethora of challenges, most notably unprecedented growth pressures in the rural areas of the south county.
"This is a big land area in a small community facing a lot of growth," Schoen said. "The demands on us as commissioners cross political boundaries, so we have to work together to solve problems across political boundaries."
Schoen wasn't referring to the three-member County Commission, which is unanimously Democrat, but the county's electorate and city leadership, which leans blue in the north and red in the south.
Schoen has continuously stressed the need to work with the cities' elected officials to address regional planning challenges.
It's not a new concept. There have been several attempts to initiate regional planning between the county and the cities in the past. But none made it past the discussion phase.
"That has always been tricky," Schoen said. "But the public wants results. They don't want us to merely talk about these things."
And so far he's done more than just talk.
The day after winning the election, Schoen drove to every city office to make copies of their respective comprehensive plans, which he then studied.
He said he aims to retain the qualities possessed by his predecessor, Dennis Wright, who retired after 10 years on the commission.
"I view (Wright) as a person of principle, and I also hope to be a person of principle," Schoen said. "That means being a careful steward of the public's resources. It means integrity and having an open mind and an open door."
He said he considers it an "honor" to be able to work with "such a dedicated and first-rate professional group of people" and that he's looking forward to learning from Stan McNutt.
McNutt, who was first hired by the county in January 2006 to evaluate its inner workings, will begin work as the county's interim county administrator—a newly created position—this Monday.
"Hiring a county administrator will give us more time to look at the big picture that we need to examine in-depth in our county," Schoen said.
He added that if there is a mandate from this past election, it's that people want regional cooperation between public agencies and the private sector.
"I think the public is looking for us all to work together, north and south," he said.
Larry Schoen, left, celebrates with Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant on the night of his election to the Blaine County Commission, Nov. 7, 2006. Photo by Mountain Express
