Nov 06, 2009 (The Idaho Statesman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX News Network) --

After losing an election to the Star City Council by one vote in 2007, Gary Smith didn't ask for a recount. And he didn't give up.

Smith got busy.

"I knew I was going to run again," he said.

The 60-year-old retiree, originally from Long Island, immersed himself in leading the city's economic development committee. He got active on the board of directors of the Eagle-Star Technology Corridor, a group of more than 100 local businesses and government officials with the common mission of attracting new technology businesses to the area.

And he began communicating City Hall news via e-mail to Star residents.

"People want to be informed. People want to know what's going on," said Smith, who has developed a list of hundreds of recipients.

Smith, who has lived in Star three years, ran for City Council again this fall and on Nov. 3 was elected with 51 percent of the vote. He received 514 votes, compared with incumbent Dustin Christopherson's 493 votes.

Another tight margin.

"A 'W' is a 'W,' no matter how you look at it," Smith said.

What's remarkable is that Smith was a proponent of the $6 million bond issue to purchase the 200-acre River Birch Golf Course -- a measure that voters rejected by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin.

He believes the measure failed because voters simply didn't have good information about it. "We need amenities," he said. "We need things to attract people to Star."

Smith said he knocked on virtually every door in the city about 16 miles northwest of Boise. Star has more than 5,500 residents, including 2,600 registered voters.

"People did not know about the bond, they did not understand the bond," Smith said.

Smith said that he enjoyed being a community volunteer, but his new role will give him a little more authority in meetings.

In sales and marketing for 35 years before he retired, Smith hopes to promote the city to families and baby boomers looking for a place to retire. Smith and his wife moved to Star to be near family.

"I come from the corporate world. I know nothing about politics. I tell people, 'Don't ever use the 'p' word around me. I'm not a politician, I'm here to serve," Smith said. "I'm an asset to the city because I have time."

Katy Moeller: 377-6413

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