Kingman ballot measures drubbed

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A heavy "no" vote was registered here where six ballot measures were rejected, including the defeat of separate bond issues proposing a total of $56.7 million in capital improvement projects in the transportation, public safety and parks arenas.

Mayor Les Byram said months of tumultuous municipal politics, heated criticism of city officials and economic woes figured into the election outcome. Residents Against Irresponsible Development, or RAID, leader Mike Bihuniak said the results were more the product of the failure of government to listen to the people.

Two City Council actions were overturned through passage of referendums that RAID qualified for the ballot. One involved rezoning for a commercial project, the other a change in a land use designation for some city-owned property.

Voters also rebuffed authorization required for the sale of the same city-owned parcel that was eyed as a key piece of a proposed commercial retail development package planned on both sides of Interstate 40.

Bihuniak said the outcome of Tuesday's election represents more of an opportunity for a fresh start than it does "gloom and doom" concerns about Kingman's future.