Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Commission
candidate wants
public involvement

---

By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

As primary election season continues to heat up, Blaine County Commission candidate Tom Bowman said he has been keeping busy.

He has been attending municipality meetings and meeting with county leaders on issues he said are important to county citizens, and he has issued press releases on a weekly basis.

He faces three-term incumbent County Commissioner Mary Ann Mix in the May 25 primary election. Both candidates are Democrats. There is no Republican candidate for the seat.

Bowman’s meetings have had a common thread, according to his most recent press release.

"I find again and again that people feel they’re not being heard regarding county decisions," he said. "I’m dedicated to listening to valley residents and making plans that take their ideas and experience into account. The commissioners’ plans affect everyone.

"We must keep the decision-making process open and the participation broad as we prepare for complex changes in our community."

Mix disagreed, however, that there’s a problem. "We do everything we can do and go beyond what is required by the law in keeping people informed in the process," she said.

Among the issues Bowman highlighted include ones associated with the Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, a new Blaine County Jail and water quality.

Bowman said Blaine County must deal with recent Federal Aviation Administration rulings that say the airport does not meet safety regulations. He also said many people believe a rushed decision has already been made to move the airport with no effort to gather community input.

"We need to make the decision based on facts, not on political expediency," Bowman said. "We need to identify the social, economic and geographical impacts of the decision. We need to proceed with the input of the community, not as a closed process."

Mix said that since November 2002, numerous meetings have been held. At one 75 people attended, and a public advisory committee formed.

"If they feel like they are not being heard, they need to perhaps attend some airport meetings," Mix said.

Bowman also weighed in on a plan that is under way to build a new county jail. Though county commissioners plan to hold public information meetings on the issue this summer, Bowman said the question of where and when to build a new facility needs more study and more community input.

"There are hard and soft costs to both keeping the jail local and to moving it out of town," he said. "We have to look at all sides of the question, especially what the city of Hailey feels about the situation.

"The people in this county should never feel that decisions are made behind closed doors, or that conclusions are reached before the facts are presented and weighed."

Mix said that for 18 months she’s been one of the key people pushing for an advisory vote on a new jail.

Finally, Bowman said a central sewage trunk line that runs the length of the Wood River Valley—and has been touted by his opponent as a viable option—might be necessary. "Then again, it might not."

"This issue, like all others, should not be decided on emotional arguments," he said. "It must be decided through an honest review of the facts by experts and the public. Adding thousands of dollars to our property tax burden to solve a non-existent problem is irresponsible. We need to make the right decision for now—and for the future."

Bowman said all important county issues should be resolved according to a predictable, inclusive plan.

"First, you study the issue with input from experts, and everyone directly affected by the issue. Next, you decide exactly what needs to be done, if anything, based on what you’ve heard and read. Third, you follow through on your decision. If you do your homework, invite broad participation and take the action needed, the decision will be the right one for the county."

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.