Los Alamos County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger discusses her upcoming retirement during an interview recently in her office at the Municipal Building. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Friday marks the final day on the job for longtime Los Alamos County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger. She is retiring after nearly 21 years on the job.
Habiger joined the County Oct. 16, 2000,
“We were very much in the recovery mode … meeting with residents and working in so many areas,” she said. “I was new to Los Alamos and new to the job so that was challenging. It took several years to get through those processes and after that we were finally able to complete a number of capital improvement projects.”
The Los Alamos Justice Center, Nature Center, Municipal Building and White Rock Town Hall are some of those projects, she said.
“I’ve seen a lot of amenities and services added for the community as well as new buildings during my time with the County,” Habiger said. “I was instrumental in standing up the Kandu Center, now called the Customer Care Center, because we wanted a one stop shop where residents and visitors could come in or call and be taken care of … that was definitely one of the high points of my time with the County.”
Los Alamos County Council Chair Randall Ryti spoke of his tenure working with Habiger.
“It has been my pleasure to have worked with Julie Habiger since I started serving on Council in 2019 and appreciated her assistance on a variety of communication efforts and in particular with regard to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Ryti said.
County Councilor Sara Scott said, “I’ve so much appreciated Julie’s dedication and contributions. From working to keep the community informed on a day-to-day basis, to her quick response to emergency situations. For example, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she recognized the importance of getting information out through press releases but also quickly set up a hot link on the County website to help the community access local updates, links to state and federal information, and the archive all information being compiled. She has a great perspective on Los Alamos County and her leadership in County communications has always used that understanding to the benefit of the community.”
County Manager Steve Lynne has worked with Habiger for some 20 years.
“It has been great working with Julie all these years,” Lynne said. “She has been very professional and reliable and always a steady source of sound advice. And I will miss her laughter. She is leaving big shoes to fill. I wish her all the best and all the fun in her retirement.”
State Rep. Christine Chandler worked with Habiger during her time on County Council and in her role as Los Alamos Probate judge.
“Julie has been a steadfast champion for keeping Los Alamos tuned in to what’s happening both in good times and in crises,” Chandler said. “Her skill at providing clear and timely information is unsurpassed and will be sorely missed.”
During her time as a County Councilor and then Los Alamos County Clerk, Sharon Stover worked with Habiger and shared the following comments with the Post.
“I always enjoyed Julie’s flash of a smile and her soft giggle. But more importantly, as the inaugural communications director for the county, she set the standard for a better way to inform our public,” Stover said. “Serving on Council leadership during the Cerro Grande and Las Conchas fires, Julie’s steadfast commitment and dedication during those stressful days and weeks was stellar. Her style is to see issues and projects through to completion — she tackles the smallest project with the same vigor and determination as she does a more challenging one. When Council desired to do the Farmers Market, she was innovative and resourceful and would improve on it each year. My wish for her is to enjoy family and that retirement will be the best part of her life.”
Leslie Bucklin has worked for Habiger for many years and is serving as acting PIO.
“Julie has successfully led the charge toward best practices for local government in the areas of communications, public outreach, transparency, visual design, branding standards, project planning, event strategies and so much more,” Bucklin said. “She has been an exceptional leader and dedicated boss, but more than that she has been my mentor and my friend. Working for her for the past 18 years has been a privilege. And she will be greatly missed.”
Julie Williams-Hill is the public relations manager for the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities. She spoke about her longtime relationship with Habiger.
“I’ve known Julie for almost 20 years now. During that time, she has selflessly dedicated herself to the county and the community, informing and educating us on multiple capital projects, rebranding, two major fires, and now a pandemic,” Williams Hill said. “For me, in the Department of Public Utilities, Julie has been my public relations partner, advisor, and advocate. I greatly appreciated her support and friendship throughout the years, and I wish her all the best on this next phase of her life.”
After retirement, Habiger will be moving with her husband to Kansas to be near family. Her husband Kerry Habiger retires today from Los Alamos National Laboratory. He and the couple’s sons shared their thoughts about Habiger with the Post.
“During our whole time in Los Alamos Julie has been the most dedicated wife, mom, and County employee,” Kerry said. “She does many things I, her children, and the County don’t even realize she does. Our grandchildren will be blessed to be her new focus in life.”
Son Marcus Habiger said, “I am thankful for the fantastic childhood that my mom made possible for me in the nine years that I spent growing up in Los Alamos before going to college, from all the crazy adventures I put her through and all the moments we shared as a family. I know she will be as amazing a grandmother to my children as she was a mom to me.
Son Andrew Habiger said, “My mom has always been an inspiration in my life. She’s been a light that shows me the way, there for both the good and the bad times. My time growing up in Los Alamos was a childhood full of love and surrounded by caring people and I will always cherish it. Maybe everyone says it, but I know I have one of the best moms. I am looking forward to having both my parents closer to me in the future.”
Habiger’s father Lawrence Strouts spoke about his daughter saying, “I am very proud of my child #5, Julie. As a journalist, she has a very good perception of right and wrong with the innate ability to separate the grain from the chaff. She has often said, ‘It’s just not fair!’ My very best wishes to her as she makes this change in her life.”
Habiger ended her retirement interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post in summing up her career at the County.
“I have no regrets,” she said. “I’ve worked with a great team of people and there has always been something new every day, so I was never bored. I was fortunate to work with great County managers and County Councils … I would do it all over again.”
Acting Los Alamos County Public Information Officer Leslie Bucklin, left, and retiring Public Information Officer Julie Habiger Wednesday at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Councilor David Izraelevitz shares a funny story with County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger during her retirement celebration Wednesday at Fuller Lodge. During Habiger’s tenure with the County, she has experienced two wildfires and a pandemic along with many large public projects. ‘It’s been a great 20 years with the County,’ she said. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council Chair Randall Ryti congratulates County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger on her retirement. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Assistant to the Los Alamos County Manager Linda Matteson reads a press release about Public Information Officer Julie Habiger’s retirement. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger speaks during her retirement party Wednesday. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Public Relations Manager Julie Williams-Hill, left, and DPU employee Kathy Casados wish Julie Habiger a happy retirement. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
From left, Metzger’s General Manager David Jolly, Department of Public Utilities Manager Philo Shelton and Assistant to the County Manager Linda Matteson attend Julie Habiger’s retirement party. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Visual Information Specialist Vint Miller and Executive Assistant Jacqueline Salazar check out a slideshow of Julie Habiger’s time with the County. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
From left, David Schiferl, PAC8 Executive Director Jean Gindreau-Davison and County Public Information Officer Julie Habiger. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
