Having been born and raised in Ketchum and a resident until the 1990s, and now watching local politics from Boise, I want to urge residents to support Mayor Randy Hall and let him finish the job you elected him to do. I have known Randy for over 20 years, and very few people have a bigger sense of community or public service than Randy. His efforts to serve the city of Ketchum over the years have been commendable, as a businessman, a fireman, a City Council member, and now mayor, he has led Ketchum into a new era of responsible change.
I remember how difficult life was to survive the slack seasons growing up, and how important it was to have a solid winter season, a busy summer, and a successful Wagon Days for business revenue. As the Castle Rock Fire became a major threat to the community in late August 2007, I saw Randy struggle with the decision to keep or cancel Wagon Days given the difficult decision between vital business and community revenue and human safety. He made the right choice, as difficult as it was. Thank goodness, this year's Wagon Days was much better.
He continues to make the right choices in supporting a new hotel in Ketchum, realizing that if Ketchum doesn't grow and attract more tourist dollars for businesses, the city will move further away from being a real community where people actually can afford to live near where they work. Randy is the right leader at the right time for Ketchum, and his heart is with this town.
I would urge Ketchum residents not to sign the recall petition and not get distracted from the real issues at hand.
Kent Laverty
Boise
