From left, Los Alamos County Council incumbent candidate Denise Derkacs, Council candidate James Wernicke, League of Women Voters of Los Alamos Chair Felicia Orth, Council candidate Ryn Herrmann, Council Candidate Beverly Neal-Clinton and incumbent Council candidate David Reagor participate in Monday’s LWV forum. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The 2024 General Election day is just four weeks away and Los Alamos County Council candidates pitched why they believe they are the best selection on the ballot, during the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos (LWV) forum Monday night at UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA).
Five candidates are vying for three seats on council:
- Beverly Neal-Clinton, Democrat
- Incumbent Denise Derkacs, Democrat
- Ryn Herrmann, Democrat
- Incumbent David Reagor, Republican
- James Wernicke, Libertarian
Each candidate made an opening statement.
“It is my honor to be here … I am choosing to run because I believe the time is critical,” Neal-Clinton said. “I believe if we believe in democracy and what it stands for, this is now a critical moment for that … I believe we can do better. It is my intent to be that person.”
Neal-Clinton listed four pillars that are her main focuses: small business, inclusivity, mental health and affordable housing.
Throughout his tenure on County Council, Reagor said he has pushed back in all types of government overreach. He said he voted in favor of the Sirphey appeal and opposed numerous motions including COVID lockdowns and shop mandates, a gross receipt tax increase, the County purchase of the former Reel Deal Theater, the road diet on Trinity Drive from Oppenheimer to Knecht Street, the solar reimbursement “bait and switch” and any natural gas bans. Furthermore, he said he supported giving LEDA funds to SALA Event Center and rolling back the nuisance code.
As former Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Director, Herrmann said, “I bring a different perspective; my experience engaging in our small business community, our entrepreneurs and the people of Los Alamos make me uniquely qualified to understand the challenges our small businesses face. But my 27 years as a Los Alamos resident makes me want to improve our community and make it a better place to live for all our residents.”
“I am running for re-election to County Council because I want to continue to help Los Alamos County plan for growth and embrace the future while preserving the past and amenities that make the county a great place to live,” Derkacs said.
She said she hopes to continue to apply her personal and professional experience to the council. Serving two terms as chair, Derkacs said she has a good understanding of the council and worked with fellow councilors to establish priorities and measure County staff progress. She identified three overarching issues: expanded housing development, proactive downtown revitalization and enhanced community services.
Wernicke described himself as a normal citizen until 2017 when his wife had kidney failure and a neighbor approached them and offered her his kidney.
“That is what showed me the power of community and after that I wanted to serve this community, serve anybody who gave their kidney for their neighbor – that is what I want to do – help people around here,” he said.
Wernicke said he now sees people needing help and the government is not helping them or worse making it harder for them.
“I am motivated to help,” he said, adding that he serves on the parks and recreation and personnel boards.
Wernicke said he supports affordable housing, believes the County shouldn’t compete with businesses and pledged to be sensitive to citizen’s needs.
Ahead of the question-answer period from the public, LWV Chair Felicia Orth posed a question to the candidates regarding how the County, if at all, should address climate change.
Reagor said the natural gas supply should be maintained and there is great opportunities with solar power.
Herrmann said Los Alamos should set an example for environmental sustainability for the state. She noted that the Los Alamos Resiliency, Energy and Sustainability Task Force’s recommendations were accepted and are being incorporated into goals. Herrmann added that the local climate action plan is being developed. Change will not happen overnight, she said, adding that as a proponent of several initiatthings, which include banning single-use plastics and encouraging people to make their own changes.
Wernicke said he does favor electrification; affordability is key, and he doesn’t want anyone to be left in the cold. He suggested offering things such as tax rebates and low interest rates.
Neal-Clinton said she also supports transitioning to renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, having community involvement, protecting biodiversity, ecosystems, healthy forests and open space.
Perhaps the most divisive responses came when candidates were asked if they believe President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. Derkacs, Neal-Clinton, Herrmann and Wernicke said yes; Regaor said no.
In addition to council candidates, voters learned about the University of New Mexico-LA bonds. UNM-LA Advisory Board Chair Kristin Henderson shared an overview of the bonds.
Bond 3 addresses how the state pays for capital projects at universities and colleges across the state. This one does not raise property taxes. The other bond is specific to UNM-LA and will raise taxes a “nominal amount”, Henerson said.
“The reason why it is important is it is the only way for UNM-LA to get funding to improve the capital projects,” she said. “We have a lot of capital projects that need to get done and if we can get it passed then the state will match us 3 to 1.”
As far as the effect on property taxes, Henderson said a property valued at $400,000 would be charged an additional $5.56 a month.
Capital projects that need to be addressed at UNM-LA include ADA compliance, leaking roofs, maintaining 1940s elementary school buildings, responding to revised higher education needs, upgrading IT needs and revamping the campus’ exterior, she said.
State Rep. Christine Chandler, who is running unopposed, discussed some of the legislation she plans to focus on in the upcoming sessions. These include the paid family and medical bill that she is co-sponsoring.
“We lost the last vote in the house by two votes … hoping this year we will be able to pass the bill. There’s a different house and there’s a different senate,” she said.
Chandler added that she hopes to work on an IT and AI discrimination bill that would impose requirements on developers and employers of AI to project people’s jobs, housing, etc.
In the race for County clerk, Michael Redondo also is running unopposed. He explained how he started to learn about the job.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate, due to being unopposed, I had the opportunity to take a casual position in the clerk’s office,” he said. “I have been working as deputy clerk in the clerk’s office since May and have been learning a lot about what clerks do from our wonderful outgoing clerk and the staff there.”
Finally, County Clerk Naomi Maestas provided information on voting for the election. Absentee voting started Tuesday along with early voting. Early voting will continue 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at the Municipal Building. It will resume 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 through Nov. 2. Voting will not be available on Sundays or on Indigenous People’s Day. On Election Day, Nov. 5, voting will occur 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building, White Rock Town Hall, the community building at the Los Alamos County Golf Course, the Betty Ehart Senior Center and UNM-LA.
