Weather Magnet

Local News
Print this story  |  Email this story  |  [+] Text Size [-]  

Voters choose Sali



Sara Mattos | Argus Observer Jeff Attebery (front) and Mark Mullins (to Attebery's right) were busy marking their ballots Tuesday afternoon at Fruitland City Hall. There was a steady line of voters coming in and out of the City Hall with a total of 223 by 1:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Julie Engel | Argus Observer

Payette

Even though local races in Payette County were largely uncontested, other state races in Idaho came down to the wire early this morning.

Payette County residents voted mostly in line with the rest of Idaho for the state races and initiatives. All results listed are unofficial, gathered from the Idaho Secretary of State Web site. Results for the Payette County Recreation District Commissioners do not have a final tally yet.

While the First District Congressional remained a tight race throughout the evening, by this morning returns showed Republican Bill Sali had defeated Democratic opponent and Fruitland native Larry Grant.

With 920 of 955 precincts reporting Sali, Kuna, claimed 113,302 votes, or 50 percent. Grant had 101,157 votes, or 45 percent. Voters in Payette County had similar percentages, with unofficial results reporting Sali with 54 percent of the vote and Grant with 41 percent.

The State Senate District 9 race between Republican incumbent Monty Pearce, New Plymouth, and Democratic challenger Tony Edmondson, Weiser, came down to voters in Payette County. Unofficial results show Pearce with 6,793 votes to Edmondson's 4,324. Edmondson fared well in Washington County with 1,493 votes to Pearce's 1,926, but in Payette County the margin between Pearce and Edmondson was more than 1,500 votes.

Pearce said this morning he looks forward to two more years in the Idaho Senate and continuing projects left over from the last legislative session. Pearce said the high school math and science requirements are important, but it will also be necessary to address young students to prepare them for high school. Also, voters voiced their approval for the property tax initiative, Pearce said, which shows the legislature made the right move regarding the tax cuts.

“I think the people are grateful and they are starting to see their tax really is different,” Pearce said.

Idahoans voted against Proposition 2 with a resounding 74 percent margin. Payette County voters also voted against the land use proposition by a 67 percent margin. Proposition 2 would have defined eminent domain when private ownership or economic development was involved, and it also would have required cities and counties to compensate landowners if land use changes affected property values.

Though the vote was closer, Idahoans also shot down Proposition 1 with 55 percent voting against the initiative.

Proposition 1 would have directed the Idaho Legislature to find a way to fund public schools equal to 1 percent of the sales tax, or about $220 million.

Payette County voters agreed with the state with 62 percent of residents voting against the initiative.

Idahoans around the state also were clearly in favor of Gov. Jim Risch's property tax relief plan approved in a special session in August. Unofficial results show 72 percent of Idahoans supported the plan. Payette County voters also supported the plan with a 72 percent approval rating.

Many states throughout the nation considered marriage amendments to their constitutions, and 63 percent of Idaho voters felt the amendment was needed for the state. H.J.R. 2 will define marriage as that between a man and a woman as the only legal union recognized in the state. Payette County felt more strongly about the amendment with 72 percent of residents voting for the measure.




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

No Dhimmi wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Islam is a woman-hating, human-enslaving ideology that should NOT be taught in our public schools. It's obvious the Saudis and the rest of the Muslim fanatics who are trying to take over the world have bought off the State of Oregon. Expect lawsuits.

And this isn't "racist," because Islam is not a race, anymore than Communism or Nazism are races, both of which killed far fewer people than Islam.

Disgusting. "

anonymous wrote on Aug 10, 2009 2:19 AM:

" The girl was Latasha Rodriguez "

Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:

" May 16, 2008

Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan

I have another quote that I would like to add

'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’


I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.


Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"


TERMS OF USE

Those who post comments are accountable for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they furnish. While we encourage writers to utilize this service on our Web site, we also strongly suggest they treat it as public forum where good taste counts. We reserve the right to decline for approval objectionable material from these blogs.

Writers that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments - such as racists language, threats or comments unrelated to the story - will not be approved for the blogs. Also, entries that are unsigned or "signatures" by someone other than the actual writer will not be approved.

While writers can still post anonymously, we strongly suggest that they do not do so.

Opinions, guidance and other information expressed in Argus Observer story blog comments and on the Argus Observer blogs represent the individuals' own views and not necessarily those of the Argus Observer. The Argus Observer furnishes this type of forum and does not endorse and is not accountable for statements or advice from anyone other than an designated Argus Observer spokesperson.


(optional)
   

All Newspaper Ads
Place a classified ad

Community Calendar
November 2009
S M Tu W Th F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30

» This Week's Events
» Submit an Event
Click to View All Events

Business Directory
Find a business near you
Business Type

OR Business Name

Web Search
Google
 

Find out about our RSS feeds and what they are.

Copyright © 2009 Argus Observer - www.argusobserver.com. All rights reserved. | Unathorized reproduction is prohibited.