STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Ketchum voters said “Yay” to a new fire station.
And they kept their city council members while Hailey voters turned theirs out of office.
Hailey voters elected Sam Linnet and Juan Martinez to the Hailey City Council. Linnet, an attorney, beat Jeffrey L. Engelhardt with 1,096 votes to 369, or 74.81 percent of the votes to 25.19 percent.
Votes are unofficial.
Martinez, a Wood River High School coach who grew up in the Wood River Valley, got 891 votes to Pat Cooley’s 569, or 61.03 percent of the vote to 38.97 percent.
In Ketchum Incumbents Michael David got 700 votes or 36.29 percent of the vote, and Jim Slanetz, 604 votes or 31.31 percent of the votes. Challenger Jen Smith, the director of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and former parks director for the city, got 524 votes, or 27.16 percent of the vote. Mickey Garcia got 101 votes or 5.24 percent.
Certified public accountant Alexis Lindberg lost to Amber Larna for Blaine County School District Trustee in Zone 1. Larna got 339 votes, or 55.48 percent; Lindberg got 272 votes, or 44.52 percent.
Jed Gray narrowly kept his seat with the Ketchum Rural Fire beating firefighter Gray Ottley 228 votes to 227. And Dennis Kavanagh got 169 votes for his seat in Wood River Fire to Seth Martin’s 91.
Voters said yes to a $11.5 million bond proposal for the new fire station, with 697 votes for and 338 votes against. The bond needed two-thirds majority to pass and got 67.34 percent. The station will be built on city-owned property north of the Wood River YMCA and across the street from the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood.
The voter turnout was 69.5 percent, with 4,014 ballots cast of 5,773 registered voters. One precinct has not yet reported as of the time this story was written.
Ketchum City Council member Michael David said he was happy to have the opportunity to serve Ketchum four more years.
"We have a lot of work to do to get some affordable housing built and recruit and retain a younger demographic. This is a strong council poised to make the bold decisions to ensure the sustainability of this awesome community. Thanks to Jen and Mickey for throwing their hats in the ring and for running a very positive campaign. Thanks to the voters in Ketchum, as well."