S T E A M B O AT
TODAY
SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, 2009
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
FREE
®
Vol. 21, No. 261
RO U T T
C O U N T Y ’ S
DA I LY
N E W S PA P E R
Youths cast few ballots Fewer than 600 people younger than 45 have voted
Fall back Remember to set your clocks back 1 hour for daylight saving time
Brandon Gee
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
YVRA to go jet-only United Airlines agrees to provide service with no revenue guarantees Page 5
SPORTS
Steamboat dominates Page 17
■ LOTTO
■ INDEX Briefs . . . . . . . . . 10 Classifieds . . . . . 24 Comics . . . . . . . 23 Crossword . . . . . 23 Happenings . . . . . 7
MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
Steamboat Springs resident Bud Romberg highlights the names of people who have returned ballots Friday at the Routt County Courthouse. Residents younger than 45 account for just one-fifth of the ballots cast in Routt County’s 2009 election, even though about half of the county’s registered voters are in that age group.
Horoscope . . . . . 22 Scoreboard . . . . 21 Sports . . . . . . . . 17 ViewPoints . . . . . 8 Weather . . . . . . . 31
Friday night’s Cash 5 numbers: 16-17-20-28-31 Drawings are held Monday through Saturday.
■ WEATHER
Sunshine mixed with clouds. High of 46.
Page 31
Residents younger than 45 account for just one-fifth of the ballots cast in Routt County’s 2009 election, even though about half of the county’s registered voters are in that age group. The discrepancy has caused some to worry that the county’s first election conducted exclusively with mail-in ballots may not be conducive to young voters. Others have been motivated to try to mobilize the youth vote. “I’m personally very troubled,” said Marion Ayer, of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s Young Professionals Network. “The issues the (Steamboat Springs) City Council faces affect our young people the most. … If the younger generation people are not getting out and voting, they’re not going to feel connected to the community.” Ayer said she intended to e-mail the network’s members to encourage them to vote if they had not and said the group also might engage in a telephone call campaign. Ayer said issues frequently debated at City Council meetings — including affordable housing, child care, jobs and the amenities of the community — should be of particular interest to young people. Those who haven’t received a ballot and think they should have — or have any other questions — should visit the Routt County Elections Office in the See Youth vote, page 14
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