Idaho Mountain Express: What wasn’t said

Friday, October 24, 2014

What wasn’t said

    Everyone in the Sun Valley area is a snow farmer. We take what falls from the skies or comes out of a snow gun, shape it, market it and make it desirable. Then we sell the experience of snow sports and recreation in exchange for credit cards.
   Snow farming is the primary component of Blaine County’s economy. It not only sustains hotels, restaurants and retailers, it also sustains farmers and ranchers. It attracts other diverse businesses whose owners locate them here because of the outstanding quality of life.
   A remarkable thing about the Pizza and Politics forum that packed the Distance Learning auditorium at Wood River High School Wednesday night wasn’t the attendance of more than 150 people. It was what was not said by candidates for county commissioner, state representative and state senator—the very people whose government units can make or break the Sun Valley area economy.
   Just two candidates, incumbent District 26 Sen. Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) and Democrat Dick Fosbury, candidate for the Idaho House, mentioned anything about the tourism industry. Stennett mentioned the positive impacts on communities located near wilderness areas and national monuments. Fosbury talked about diversification.
   Otherwise, all candidates talked about water, education, agriculture, taxes, wages, poverty, roads, wolves, senior citizens, jobs, public lands and the role of government—with nary a nod to tourism.
   Another remarkable thing about the forum was that no one in the audience asked candidates about strengthening the tourism industry. No one asked how the candidates regard tourism. No one asked about marketing. No one asked about the departure of two major homegrown businesses, Smith and Scott.
   We can’t imagine a forum in Seattle, Wash., where no one asks about Boeing and the aircraft industry, or one in Idaho Falls in which no one asks about the Idaho National Laboratory.
   We’re left to wonder: Does anyone know or care about the business we’re in? Clearly, if we don’t, there’s no reason elected leaders should care.
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