VAIL, Ariz. (KGUN) — The early Election Day results showed Vail will not become an incorporated town.
Voters rejected a push to incorporate the community, with the 'NO' vote on Prop 402 winning 62-38.
The debate had heated up over several months. Supporters believed Vail as an incorporated town would give residents more autonomy and control over future growth.
People against the idea, however, believed it would only promote more growth that would jeopardize the community's rural feel. Others felt the process was rushed, and the potential for increased taxes also slowed support for incorporation.
This margin was notably larger than the last attempt to incorporate Vail in 2013, which failed by a 55-45 vote.
Rob Samuelsen, director of the 'Incorporate Vail, AZ' group that spearheaded the multi-year incorporation campaign, told KGUN that it raised about $250,000 during that time.
“We put together a really good plan. We did an analysis that was robust," he said Wednesday. "I’m proud of our effort. We tried to be honorable. We tried to be honest and have integrity… We came up short.”
People on both sides of the debate say the issue turned neighbors against each other, and the community needs to do some "healing."
“People are passionate about where they live. People love Vail," said Jessica Ogiba, who is against incorporation. "Those emotions are involved, people tend to speak out a little more on it.”
“There was a lot of fighting back and forth between the two sides. I’ve realized now how vicious and malicious social media is,” said Mark Tate, an incorporation supporter.
“A lot of that tension between people, it’s, ‘Either you think my way or you’re the enemy.’ And I truly and pray that we’ll be able to come back and form that Vail that I knew six months ago.”