I attended the Pizza and Politics event last week in Hailey to learn about the candidates for Hailey City Council. I want to thank the Idaho Mountain Express for facilitating this event for our community.
After digesting what I heard from both Martha Burke and Tony St. George, I came away with a clear decision as to whom I will vote for for Hailey City Council, and that is Tony St. George. My decision was made by listening to Martha's attacks on development, real estate and her "Hailey only" attitude. I feel that Tony has a better understanding of current economic drivers of our regional economy and local needs.
The "big commissions" that Martha kept implying would drive Tony's decisions have been gone for a couple of years. However, responsible development, in alignment with the Hailey comprehensive plan, would be much appreciated by the many Hailey residents employed in the construction and landscaping trades. To us it wouldn't matter if the developers came from Ketchum, Bellevue or out of state. We are the very people who, when employed, shop in our stores, eat at our restaurants and continue to live and pay taxes in Hailey.
I am a resident of Hailey, a business/property owner in Bellevue and have done work with the city of Ketchum and Blaine County. We are one big Wood River Valley and for us to be sustainable, all communities need to work together. Each community has different strengths, but to achieve the goal to diversify our economy and attract new companies, we need to sell the vision of the Wood River Valley. Tony St. George understands this. He is involved in the city of Hailey, works in Ketchum and talks to people throughout the valley. This provides him with valuable insights so he can see both sides of an issue, and I do trust him to make good decisions.
Tony is intelligent and passionate about keeping Hailey's "home-town" feel. Yet he understands that we need new ideas and a fresh perceptive for a sustainable Hailey in the future.
Please vote for Tony St. George for Hailey City Council.
Heidi Dohse
Hailey
