Ketchum’s Character is Non-Negotiable
Main Policy Focus:
Retail LOT has been a necessary part of funding Ketchum Taxpayers’ priorities. Still, we need to avoid over-reliance on taxes from our year-round businesses which serve locals, and instead, target the tourism industry more directly to pay for the way it strains our community.
Housing affordability and options are barriers to people getting their footing in our community and those with growing families who want to stay. Tax credit solutions have been successful in creating some low area median income (AMI) community housing, but its drawbacks will continue to grow with additional low AMI units. We have to pursue housing that targets higher AMI, doesn’t give employers a break on low wages, and creates pathways for long-term success for working people in our community.
Businesses have been harmed by city and state activity in Ketchum since the COVID-19 boom. Major infrastructure projects were inevitably going to be disruptive. Yet we saw an insufficient mitigation effort from our local government to help businesses succeed during this time. Moving forward, the KURA needs to be held accountable to its mission of “removing urban blight” instead of using its resources pursuing unpopular housing projects.
Character is more than the people who live here and how we plan and build. It’s also more than the intersection between the two. Ketchum and the Wood River Valley have lost distinct places of social gathering in the last two decades. What we do and where we do it will continue to change. If we want to protect at-risk areas, we have to fight for them. It will be a fight to make Warm Springs as lively as it once was, but in the short term, I’m more afraid of losing important places like our Light Industrial Area. Not only is it where many residents work and create, but it is also something that makes Ketchum a unique Mountain Town. Most towns like ours don’t keep their light industrial areas. Ketchum must continue to protect the place where industry is allowed to exist and allows locals to do something more than just serve our tourism industry.
The LI, our hillsides, our access to pristine waterways are all components of Ketchum’s character that we can’t write off as lost. Like so many other aspects of life in our town, their loss will be immeasurably felt; we can’t be fatalistic about our community’s character.
Ketchum’s residents and families must be the core concern of its elected officials. Our vibrancy comes from multigenerational families and new comers alike choosing to contribute to making this place special. It will always be a compromise to live here, work here, play here, raise kids here, and volunteer here. But each of us and every generation should be part of the decisions being made which determine what it means to live the good life in Ketchum.
I have called Ketchum home for most of my life, and I’m running because a working family like the one I grew up in should still be able to make a home in Ketchum. Our next council members need to be trusted to manage progress and protect the character and heritage that make Ketchum such an incredible place to live, work, and visit.
In my current role as a Commissioner on the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission and Ketchum’s Historic Preservation Commission, I’ve collaborated with fellow commissioners and residents to strike a balance between growth and preservation. I have worked on updating our comprehensive plan and municipal code, reviewed development applications, and collaborated with city staff and fellow commissioners to ensure that new projects respect our history while meeting the community’s needs.
Our economy and community will change from within and must confront the impacts that reach us from every corner of the world. This doesn’t have to mean losing our identity. We can manage our future deliberately by encouraging responsible development that supports our economy, housing needs, and quality of life, while also safeguarding the historic buildings, cultural landmarks, hillsides, and natural beauty that define our sense of place.
My professional experience has prepared me to lead. As Sales Manager of the Sun Valley Company’s Ski and Ride School, I lead a 25-member guest services team, build partnerships, and work to improve operations to better serve both residents and visitors. As a Head Coach of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Freestyle Progression Team, I mentor young athletes and teach them the value of discipline, safety, and perseverance. I’ve also managed local businesses and worked on national political campaigns, which has given me a broad perspective on leadership, communication, and community engagement.
I earned my degree in Economics and Political Studies from Pitzer College. There, I learned to analyze complex issues and develop practical, people-focused solutions.
I’m running for city council because I want to ensure that Ketchum’s future is shaped by the people who love it most—its residents. Together, we can welcome new opportunities without compromising the small-town spirit, historic charm, and natural beauty that make Ketchum unique.
