Hall, Proper elected to Vail rec district board
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Michelle Hall was the top finisher in Tuesday’s vote for two seats on the Vail Recreation District Board of Directors.
Hall finished with 245 votes, finishing just ahead of Scott Proper, who collected 237. Jeff Christensen finished out of the running with 170 votes. A total of 398 votes were cast.
The three candidates were seeking to replace former board members Herman Staufer and Tom Saalfeld, who did not seek re-election.
Hall, who works for the Avon Public Library, has been involved in planning the proposed indoor recreation facility at Red Sandstone Elementary School. That facility is expected to break ground this year.
Hall also supported the ballot issue – approved by voters Tuesday – to raise district property taxes slightly to cover the payments on a 2001 bond that paid for renovations to Dobson Ice Arena. She also said she would support asking voters for more revenue for the indoor recreation facility and golf course renovations.
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Proper, a loan officer at Millennium Bank in Edwards, said district voters needed to pass the tax increase to remain financially sound.
“At this point, I’m just excited to get to work,” Proper said. “I like that a lot of people came up and talked to me over the last few weeks.”
Proper also campaigned for better publicizing the services the district offers residents. Getting the word out would get more visitors involved in – and paying for – district programs, he said.
“I think they need to look more at things that may be a little more for the common man other than golf,” said resident Frank McKibben. “I think they’ve been so married to golf that at times they’re making decisions on economics, not on what the district needs,”
“I’m trying to get the kind of Vail I want,” resident Brendan McCarthy said. “My opinion counts as much as anyone else’s. That’s why I’m here today.”
Voter turnout was far short of the 2002 election, when more than 2,200 voters turned out in a heavily-publicized campaign in which board members Nino Licciardi, Julie Hansen and Peter Cook ran as a “coalition,” and campaigned hard for their seats.
Still, the polling place at Vail Town Hall was fairly busy all day, and the election judges were enjoying the action.
“I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in years; you get to catch up here,” election judge Flo Habenicht said.