Unfortunately the incumbents will smugly take their re-election as a mandate that the public is pro-streetcar and pro-tax.

Just proves that most voters are uninvolved and misinformed.

It amazes me at the low voter turnout across the valley. If ever there was a time to oust incumbents this past election was the one.

Looks like Caldwell will be screwing up their downtown with a community college wanted by the mayor and his urban renewal board. Business owners downtown are furious over this deal as it will spell the end of the line for them and their businesses. Students will take up all the parking and people will not be able to park downtown.

Boise looks to be on track for the trolley folly.

Nampa will have four more years of Tom Dale and his merry men and women.

We have a situation where the majority have abdicated their voice over to the minority who took the time and effort to get out and vote.

I don’t want my elected officials to do what I ask. I want them to do what is right.

The two are not always the same…

It strikes me that almost twenty thousand Boiseans cared enough to vote. I presume they became informed before doing so or they would have sat on their hands like the rest. As it should be. And certainly Litster showcased ‘trolley folly’ as his singular campaign issue and it clearly didn’t get the motivation for a vehement backlash many here were predicting despite some pretty heavy publicity. I think people are open to the idea of a streetcar if Boise can make the stars align on the funding. But that process has a long way to go yet. Anyone know how the other streetcar based elections fared last night?

“I can’t believe the mayor is ignoring his public on this. It just doesn’t make sense?”–um, I don’t think its the mayor who may be deluded with regard to popular support for the streetcar. His honor was a clear winner last night. But the jury has yet to convene on the streetcar and shouldn’t until the facts are in.

I did find this report on the other cities and their respective referendums on streetcar proposals.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Streetcar-advocates-win-critics-lose-elections-69121702.html

Interesting that voters in Cincinnati actually rejected an opportunity to veto their streetcar proposal.

The best way at this point to try and stop the streetcar is get hold of Dave Litster and get the petition he is circulating signed. He already has over 1500 signatures to at least get it put to a public vote. 5000 more signatures are needed. Email [email protected] to find out where the next signing is, probably at the next BSU game.

Also, tell everyone you know to contact the city council and complain. The survey that the Statesman just did showed only 1/3rd of Boiseans support it.

At least if it goes to a public vote, that is more of a fair decision than having 3 people on the council make it.

And don’t forget – an election win for a streetcar advocate is NOT a voter mandate in favor of a streetcar. There are dozens of reasons elections are won and lost, streetcars are just a small part of the overall equation.

A year ago, the ’08 election was riveting as a new president was chosen and history was made. Idahoans went to the polling places in record numbers.

Last January, my high-school age daughter came home lamenting that they had to watch the inauguration stuff all day, and “it was so boring!!”

Her mother scolded her: “You should be interested in government, because you’re almost an adult and you’ll get to vote soon.” (And indeed, she’ll be 18 later this month. Ironically, her mother didn’t vote yesterday.)

Daughter replied, “But Mom, it just doesn’t matter, no matter who gets elected!”

I believe that pretty much sums up the attitude of maybe half of the 83% who didn’t vote. The other half are irresponsible and/or lazy. And like you told Julie, we can easily take that right for granted… maybe it’s TOO easy to vote.

I theorize that if 80% of voters typically turned out, “public opinion” would be more important to our elected leaders. Since 20% vote, they can cater to the whims of the special-interest and fringe folks, as long as they can depend on THAT group getting out and voting.

If the council will not listen to the public (note I did not say voters) then the only recourse is legal. Every time they do something remotely illegal, take them to court…and the parties should be the ones footing the legal bills.

You people amaze me. A handful of you show up to shout down the Council’s innocuous Healthcare Resolution, and you declare it a “grassroots mandate.” Then, when thousands of your fellow citizens vote for the candidates who support the street car, you insist it can’t be a mandate. Certainly nobody can be as bright as the people who meet on this lonesome site. My theory is that the voters of Boise are bright enough to know that the majority of those who do go to the polls will do their research and vote for the best candidates for the city. Those who don’t have time to educate themselves because local politics are not on a constant news stream are trusting that the reliable voters will educate themselves. You shouldn’t decry the results as the whim of fringe folk just because your horse didn’t win.

@Dave. I completely agree. It is a shame that so few people cared enough to vote.

Let us hope that we can still convince our city that we DO NOT need or want the trolly folly.

I’m not surprised. Americans voted for George W. Bush twice!

64.07% That statement is just about the dumbest one I have heard! You have GOT to be working for the mayor. No logical person could think your “spin” would originate anywhere else!