Democrat Theresa Cull stopped by the Post Wednesday to discuss her candidacy for Los Alamos County Council. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Democrat Theresa Cull is running for a seat on Los Alamos County Council. She recently stopped by the Los Alamos Daily Post to answer questions about the local election.
This is part of a series of Q&As with political candidates that the Post will publish ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election.
POST: How long have you lived in Los Alamos?
CULL: I moved to Los Alamos in June 1983. I did live “off the hill” in La Puebla for about 10 of my 39 years here.
POST: Where do you work?
CULL: I retired from LANL in October 2020.
POST: Why are you running for County Council?
CULL: I’m running for County Council because I want to continue to give back to this community that has given so much to me. I’m a good listener, I appreciate the diversity of opinions and needs in our community, and I value the quality of life that our town provides. As a County Councilor, I will make decisions that move our County forward, while maintaining the quality of life this town provides.
POST: County Council requires a significant time commitment, usually 4 council meetings a month, committee meetings and other events as well as reading preparation prior to those meetings. How will this fit in with your other commitments?
CULL: As I mentioned, I retired about 2 years ago. I have spent those two years getting through many items on my to-do list. My children are also adults now and don’t demand the time and attention that they did, although family will always be my top priority. After being a single Mom for 10 years while working as a manager at the Laboratory, I believe I am quite capable of handling the time commitment required of a County Counselor. If elected, I will resign my position on the Los Alamos Golf Association Board, but I still plan to play golf and hike with my dogs.
POST: What do you believe is the role of the Council in our community?
CULL: The role of the Council is similar to the role of the Boards on which I’ve served. The Council sets policy, develops and manages the budget, and provides direction and oversight to key positions within the County government. In addition, as elected officials, County Counselors represent the people they serve. Counselors are expected to listen to the diverse opinions and needs of the community and make decisions that best address those concerns.
POST: Do you think you have any personal or professional relationships that could become a conflict of interest while serving as a Council member?
CULL: I own two buildings in Los Alamos County that I currently rent out. I doubt if this would become a conflict of interest, but if it does, I will recuse myself.
POST: What is your approach to handling controversial and complicated issues?
CULL: In both cases, listen. For controversial issues, try to understand what is causing the controversy. Get the various constituents together, if possible, to find a solution that addresses the concerns and try to reach a compromise. For complicated issues, learn as much as possible about the issue. Bring in experts, as needed, to provide advice and then make decisions based on the input received. In both cases, take the time needed to make the best decision possible.
POST: What skills and experience do you have that you believe would be beneficial to the position?
CULL: I’ve contributed to this community by serving on the Boards of several non-profits, and I’m currently on the Los Alamos Golf Association Board of Directors. I have a degree in safety engineering and my career at the Laboratory focused on Environment, Safety, and Health and Management. As such, my role was to collaborate, listen, and learn about the important work at the Laboratory in order to facilitate the work while ensuring the safety and protection of the workers, the public, and the environment. I was also involved in many of the Laboratory’s diversity efforts and I served on the Laboratory’s Diversity Affirmative Action Board. I believe these skills and my extensive experience in this community position me well for a role as County Counselor.
POST: What previous community involvement have you had in Los Alamos or another community?
CULL: I’ve raised two children here and have been involved in, or volunteered for, many of their activities. That included coaching multiple sports, working with youth to build houses in Mexico over spring breaks, serving as a Lunch Buddy through Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and even putting together several floats for the annual Light Parade. I’ve also contributed to this community by serving on the Boards of several non-profits, including Sage Cottage Preschool, the Unitarian Church, and PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I’m currently volunteering as a youth advisor at the Unitarian Church and I’m on the Los Alamos Golf Association Board of Directors. I’m a member of PEEC, Los Alamos Co-op Market, and the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization and I support our local businesses (especially the restaurants!).
POST: Based on what you know about County government, what do you see as the top priorities?
CULL: I believe that housing and infrastructure are our top priorities. We especially need housing to address the “missing middle” ($60-100k) and we need additional low-income housing. But we need to make sure we have the infrastructure to support a growing community. Infrastructure typically includes transportation systems, communication networks (broadband), sewage, water, gas, and electricity. But I include our schools, medical facilities, and businesses in the definition of infrastructure because they are necessary for a fully functioning community.
