Hailey voters chose Tuesday to keep incumbent City Councilwoman Martha "Beaver" Burke in office, electing her to a fifth term. Voters also showed strong support for fellow incumbent Don Keirn in an election that upheld the status quo in Hailey government during challenging economic times.
Only 23 percent of Hailey's 3,774 registered voters turned out for the election. Of those, 559 voted for Burke and 605 voted for Keirn, who ran unopposed for his council seat. Tony St. George, who challenged Burke, received 219 votes in his first attempt at public office.
"This election was a referendum by voters that we don't want development everywhere," Burke said. "This community does not want to sell out. It does not want to grow at a rate that is unsustainable."
Burke questioned the intentions of St. George during her campaign because of his professional ties to real estate development interests.
She implied that St. George, if elected, could serve to undermine the city's "family-friendly character" by supporting irresponsible developments in and around the city.
A seven-year Hailey resident and a real estate agent with the Ketchum-based Rokan real estate investment firm, St. George had openly challenged the city's collection of development impact fees. Co-worker John Sofro served as his campaign manager, touting St. George as someone who could boost the local economy.
Following the election, St. George was gracious in defeat.
"I think Martha is doing a great job and enough people in Hailey knew that and voted for her," he said. "It's what Hailey wants and it's all good."
Burke, who moved to Hailey in the early 1970s, before the development of Woodside subdivision, said during the council race that residential growth does not pay for itself over the long haul and that the city needs to explore new means of economic development.
"It can't all be based on construction and growth," she said. "It is a mistake to use annexations to fund a community. It's almost like a Ponzi scheme.
"We already have housing inventory and lots to build on in the city. I don't see Hailey as anti-growth, but the additions have to be responsible."
Burke, who went door to door during her campaign to gather information on voter priorities, said some people are concerned that development in Airport West Business Park could compete with Hailey's downtown commercial core.
Local option tax extension
Hailey voters also decided to extend the term of the local option tax for 20 years, with 84 percent, or 657 voters, supporting the ballot initiative.
The goal of the City Council in putting forward the LOT initiative was to secure the LOT as a source of revenue before the city's population exceeds 10,000. Idaho code allows resort communities with populations of less than 10,000 to collect local option taxes to help pay for the costs of hosting numerous visitors. Recent estimates indicate that Hailey's population is about 8,500.
Only 125 voters cast ballots against the LOT extension.
Hailey will continue to collect a rental vehicle tax of 3 percent, a hotel room tax of 3 percent, a by-the-drink liquor tax of 2 percent and a restaurant food tax of 1 percent.
Since the assessments were implemented in July 2006, the city has collected some $1.68 million in local option taxes.
LOT funds have paid for snow removal equipment, lighted crosswalks, police and fire department improvements, and economic development in Hailey.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
