The Ada County commissioners’ races could offer a window into local political dynamics.

These are two head-to-head races between Democrats and well-known Republicans (a departure from 2006, when Democrat Paul Woods won a three-person race with 43 percent of the vote). If Democrats win one or both commission races on Nov. 4, the results could signal that the county is trending blue, much as the city of Boise has in recent elections.

For all the political intrigue, these are two straightforward and unqualified endorsements: Democrat David Langhorst has demonstrated his effectiveness in six years in the Legislature, while Woods has had a good two-year term on the commission.

PAUL WOODS

In the past two years, Ada County has gotten serious about preserving open space - assembling a 21-member task force to quantify recreation needs, and setting aside $500,000 to protect acreage.

With these efforts under way, we can think of no better commissioner to have in place than Woods. Woods worked on the successful Foothills levy election of 2001; he’s passionate about open space. As the former open space manager for the city of Boise, Woods knows a thing or two about ensuring taxpayers get maximum return on investments in preservation.

Woods isn’t a one-issue commissioner, though, and will bring a practical approach to the tight budgets that could await the commission in the next couple of years. Asked to spell out priorities, Woods doesn’t flinch. Preserving public safety needs to be job one. He’s right.

This race is a rematch of sorts; former commissioner and longtime local watchdog Sharon Ullman is running on the GOP ticket. Ullman is an informed and articulate candidate - and we endorsed her independent campaign in the 2006 race won by Woods. But we are mindful, now as then, of Ullman’s tendency to stir up controversy, often unnecessarily. Woods has grown on the job, and has our support this time.

“Our View” is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman’s editorial board.

The Ada County commissioners’ races could offer a window into local political dynamics.

These are two head-to-head races between Democrats and well-known Republicans (a departure from 2006, when Democrat Paul Woods won a three-person race with 43 percent of the vote). If Democrats win one or both commission races on Nov. 4, the results could signal that the county is trending blue, much as the city of Boise has in recent elections.

For all the political intrigue, these are two straightforward and unqualified endorsements: Democrat David Langhorst has demonstrated his effectiveness in six years in the Legislature, while Woods has had a good two-year term on the commission.

PAUL WOODS

In the past two years, Ada County has gotten serious about preserving open space - assembling a 21-member task force to quantify recreation needs, and setting aside $500,000 to protect acreage.

With these efforts under way, we can think of no better commissioner to have in place than Woods. Woods worked on the successful Foothills levy election of 2001; he’s passionate about open space. As the former open space manager for the city of Boise, Woods knows a thing or two about ensuring taxpayers get maximum return on investments in preservation.

Woods isn’t a one-issue commissioner, though, and will bring a practical approach to the tight budgets that could await the commission in the next couple of years. Asked to spell out priorities, Woods doesn’t flinch. Preserving public safety needs to be job one. He’s right.

This race is a rematch of sorts; former commissioner and longtime local watchdog Sharon Ullman is running on the GOP ticket. Ullman is an informed and articulate candidate - and we endorsed her independent campaign in the 2006 race won by Woods. But we are mindful, now as then, of Ullman’s tendency to stir up controversy, often unnecessarily. Woods has grown on the job, and has our support this time.

“Our View” is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman’s editorial board.

On June 18, 2008, Ada County became the first local government agency to not only adopt recommendations of the Blueprint for Good Growth into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, but also adopt a provision into ordinance.  Ada County has ammended its zoning ordinance to eliminate the Non-Farm Subdivision zoning entitlement from its zoning regulations.

Originally envisioned as a way to assist the agricultural community by providing a means to get economic returns out of unproductive farmland, the entitlement had become a patchwork of small water and wastewater systems that often had considerable problems.  In addition, the agriculturally productive farmland that remained was not permantly set aside as open space, even though that was what the zoning map designated the land as.  If the property was subsequently annexed, it then typically created a clash of large lot homes on marginal water and wastewater systems next to high density homes on urban services.  Once the water and wastewater systems fail, the owners were charged large connection fees to urban services.

The elimination of this zoning entitlement will help move Ada County forward in creating better coordination between urban and rural property uses and should lead to better patterns of growth in Ada County.