Leadership Los Alamos Holds Session #3: Local Government

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on December 24, 2023
- 6:01 am

LLA class participates in Los Alamos County trivia. Photo by Kateri Morris

County Councilor Suzie Havemann gives the class insights on the life of a county councilor and the importance of public engagement. Photo by Kateri Morris

LLA News:

On Dec. 15, Leadership Los Alamos gathered at the Los Alamos Municipal Building, to learn about the structure and function of Los Alamos County government. Upon arrival, the class had the opportunity to sit in the County Council’s Special Meeting to observe the appointing of the new Los Alamos County Manager, Anne Laurent.

Deputy Los Alamos County Manager Linda Matteson and Public Works Director Juan Rael continued facilitating the LLA session by having the class participate in a public comment exercise. Each member had a chance to state their opinion on community development and infrastructure, advocate for continued support and funding for local programs and special projects, as well as address local issues and offer suggestions to the “council” (as presented by their LLA peers).

The day commenced with an overview of Los Alamos County government by County Manager Steve Lynne discussing the government structure, demographics, revenue and expenditures, key staff roles, and county services provided to the community. Española Mayor John Ramon Vigil soon followed by sharing his early start in government and provided an overview of the Española City government structure, function, and the unique dynamic between other local government entities.

County Councilor Suzie Havemann gave the class insights on the life of a county councilor and the importance of public engagement. As a native of Los Alamos herself, she shared about her genuine interest in citizen input and feedback by seeking to understand issues and concerns that arise, identifying solutions, and setting a vision and direction for change. The County provides an easy way to provide anonymous public input with a “Have Your Say” button located on the county website. It is a feature that allows the public to have a say on new initiatives, programs, and projects. Link: https://www.losalamosnm.us/Home/Tabs/Whats-Happening/New-Have-Your-Say-Page

After lunch, the class partook in a local government trivia game and divided into groups to review a case study on a housing dilemma. Each group shared their observations and suggestions with the rest of the class.

Leadership Los Alamos is a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify current and emerging leaders in Los Alamos and surrounding communities, to enhance their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the community. Each class learns about a variety of topics like community organizations, cultural and history, youth, education, local government, economic development, and environmental issues. For more information, go to: Leadership Los Alamos – An educational organization dedicated to the future of Los Alamos

LLA class member Alice Holtzclaw participates in the public comment exercise. Photo by Kateri Morris