With the effort to recall Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall now deservedly kaput, there's one last matter to put to rest.
The organizers of the recall owe the mayor a sincere and honest apology.
The recall organizers essentially tried to overturn the results of the last two city elections, which put people on the City Council who are in favor of moving forward on downtown improvements, hotel development and community workforce housing.
The introduction of the proposed Warm Springs Ranch Resort Hotel development set neighbors on the warpath. They objected vociferously to the height of the hotel, its placement in their "neighborhood," and new traffic on the main road. The small group didn't like the project—or one proposed for the site previously. This was all well and good—grist for consideration.
Then, someone apparently decided that the group could derail the hotel if the mayor were recalled.
If organizer Anne Corrock had portrayed the recall as about the neighbors' hatred of the hotel proposal, or disagreement with ordinances passed under Mayor Hall's leadership that might allow such a hotel to be built, or disagreement with the city's timetable, it would have been straightforward.
Instead, Corrock and the group chose to attempt to assassinate the mayor's character by alleging self-dealing and insinuating that the mayor had illegally charged personal debts to a city credit card—all untrue. This was underhanded and dishonorable.
An apology would help heal the wounds inflicted by this misguided effort.
