STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Neil Bradshaw became the first to throw his hat into Ketchum’s mayoral race Wednesday night as he held a launch party on the patio of his campaign headquarters at 180 W. Sixth St. in Ketchum.

Bradshaw, who has two dozen years in business development and marketing, has lived in Ketchum since 2005. He is running on the motto of “Community Inspired Leadership.”

He told about three dozen people who turned out for his launch party that he wanted to see a whole bunch of connections, particularly between the community and city hall.

“I want to see city hall saying: What can we do for you? I want to see the welcome mat outside city hall,” he said.

Bradshaw said the failed bond issue for a new city hall shows a disconnect between city hall and the citizenry.

“We don’t need a large facility. I believe we can get a solution for $6 million, not $26 million,” Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw also recounted how the Ketchum Community Development Corporation had worked to develop built 32 units of housing using $8 million in tax credits. They wrote a check for $800,000 to the city when they were done.

“But, when the same group of people went to City Hall asking to do it again, the city said, ‘No, we’ve got it covered.’ Four years later, nothing has happened,” he said.

Bradshaw’s campaign polled  attendees about a handful of issues. By large margins, respondees advocated for the city partnering with a housing project near the hospital, playing an active role in attracting a younger demographic and assisting with the funding of events.

“If you vote for me on Nov. 7, the doors will open and you will be heard,” Bradshaw said.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis was among those who turned out.

“I like Neil. I think he’s smart. And I think the word ‘community’ means something to him,” she said. “In small communities, connection is crucial and he brings the idea of connection to the community.”