STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Ketchum voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote on a LOT tax that would supply funding for affordable housing in the housing-starved town.

But, while 53.04 percent of the voters voted in favor of raising LOT taxes on hotel rooms and other amenities to provide money for affordable housing, it was not the 60 percent majority needed to enact the tax.

The end result was 619 votes in favor and 548, or 46.96 percent, against.

In Bellevue it was a different story as 80.34 percent, or 286 voters, voted in favor of the LOT question. Only 19.66 percent, or 70 voted against.

The Wood River Fire Bond, meant to build a new fire station near Albertsons, was soundly defeated with 516, or 65.90 percent of voters voting against it and 267 or 34.10 percent in favor of.

The other big contested election in Blaine County was that between County Clerk Stephen McDougall Graham and Gretchen Stinnett. McDougall, the incumbent won with 1,411 of the votes or 66.18 percent. Stinnett won 721 votes or 33.82 percent.

And Laurie Lickley beat Eric Parker 59.86 percent to 40.14 percent for the Republican nomination for State Senator District 26.

Statewide, Gov. Brad Little survived a primary challenge from current Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who has a house in the Ketchum area, in the state’s Republican primary. In an unofficial count, he got 62 percent of the vote to McGeachin’s 25 percent. There were seven challengers in the race.

He will likely face teacher Stephen Heidt of Marsing, who was in the lead with more than 80 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary. Also running in November is Ammon Bundy, who is running as an independent.

Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke beat out Priscilla Giddings 51.81 percent to 42.37 percent for the Republican Lieutenant Governor candidacy. Phil McGrane won 43.26 percent of the vote to Dorothy Moon’s 41.30 percent in a tightly contested race for the Republican Secretary of State nomination.

Raul Labrador bested incumbent Attorney General Lawrence Wasden 51.38 percent to 38.09 percent for the Republican nomination.

Debbie Critchfield won 39.76 percent of the vote for the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction in a primary that toppled current Superintendent Sherri Ybarra from her post. Her challengers Branden J. Durst and Sherri Ybarra got 33.56 percent and 26.68 percent of the votes.

Here are the Blaine County results of contested elections with 15 of 15 precincts counted:

U.S. Senator-Democratic—Ben Pursley, 40.21 percent; Davi Roth, 59.79 percent.

U.S. Senator-Republican—Mike Crapo, 76.70 percent

U.S. Representative-District 2 Republican—Mike Simpson with 72.40 percent of the vote compared with Bryan Smith with 19.09 percent.

Idaho Governor Republican—Brad Little with 73.43 percent compared with Janice McGeachin, 16.16 percent.

Lieutenant Governor Republican—Scott Bedke with 63.48 percent compared with Priscilla Giddings with 27.46 percent.

Secretary of State Republican—Phil McGrane with 58.87 percent compared with 27.25 percent for Dorothy Moon.

Attorney General Republican—Lawrence Wasden with 55.43 percent compared with Raul Labrador with 33.80 percent.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican—Debbie Critchfield with 39.96 percent compared with 36.62 for Sherri Ybarra and 23.41 percent for Branden J. Durst.

State Senator District 26 Republican—Laurie Lickley with 59.86 percent compared with 40.14 percent for Eric Parker.

State Representative District 26 Position B Republican—Jack Nelsen with 55.96 percent compared with 44.04 percent for Lyle Johnstone.

The local Democrat precinct committeemen will be Candice Stark, Errin Bliss, Janie W. Davidson, Jeremy Fryberger, Chantal Westerman, Lara McLean, Dana Dugan, Patricia Dorr, Pedro Manuel Miramontes Ortiz and Karen Bliss.

Local Republican precinct committeemen will be Richard Jesinger, Julie Lynn, Kimberly Baker and Randall Patterson.