By GEORGE R. JENNINGS Jr.

Yes, I went to the League of Women Voters forum for the eight County Council candidates.  

And yes I asked a question: “When elected what will be your top one or two initiatives to make Los Alamos more than a one-company town?”

And no candidate had a good answer, although Redondo alluded to a “needs further consideration”. Two of the democratic candidates – IZRAELEVITZ and O’LEARY – agreed to misinterpret the question as total Laboratory closure, and basically dodged the possibility of funding reductions and said “that never has and can’t and won’t happen here, and we don’t need to plan for it”. Mostly the theme for the other six candidates was something like “encourage small business”, which I thought had already been tried – for decades.

But two candidates stand out. Bliss offered a thoughtful, considered response. Cunningham ran with the pack.  

So why will I vote for Andrea Cunningham for 2014 County Council? Here’s why: Andrea Cunningham immediately realized the importance of marshalling local support for one of the best alternatives on the horizon for a more diversified, thriving multiple-company Los Alamos – aggressive pursuit of the Manhattan Project National Park and the Valle Caldera Preserve “National Park” (in whatever form, billed as the little Yellowstone of New Mexico) in bringing Los Alamos to international attention as the destination place in New Mexico, which cannot and should not be missed. 

Coupled with Bandelier National Monument and the Science Museum, and the history of the town/history museum and historical walks, and the fantastic high-altitude sports opportunities – the hiking/running/mountain biking trails, the (mostly) bicycle-friendly roads including “The Loop”, one of the highest olympic-sized swimming pool in the country, the gorgeous weather and the spectacular scenery, the Jemez country and Santa Fe National Forest access with endless exploring, camping and backpacking, visiting Los Alamos becomes quite compelling – launching new industry here (and why is the Valle Caldera National Preserve Headquarters not here, again?), bringing jobs and a new vitality, moving our town away from the risks entailed by a one-company town. Ever been to a one-company town where the industry declined? It is not pretty.  

Andrea Cunningham has demonstrated the ability to lead with vision in the organization and pursuit of bringing a new anchor store – and shopping center – to Los Alamos. Of the bunch of current candidates, she seems the most likely to make something happen on this issue, which is likely to become vitally important to our town – unless you believe the Great Father in Washington will always send money and will only cut programs incrementally, and give back later. Sort of a “by divine right” argument. But they need money in Washington more than more nuclear weapons work into the foreseeable future – ask director McMillan where he’s trying to position the Lab – but NOTHING pays like nuclear weapons. So expect declining budgets, expect declining county revenues in the decades to come.

So fiscal conservative that I am, I’m voting for Andrea. And I think John Bliss. And I’m considering Michael Redondo, because he’s young and has vision, credentials and seems capable. As one of the candidates put it – John Bliss? – we want leadership (and vision) and not micro-management in the county council. Come to think of it, CHROBOCINSKI didn’t do too badly either. I want vigorous leadership for change. Whoever gets elected, I hope they will lead our town into a place of new vitality, where the discoveries made are not that we ran out of money so property taxes have to go up and up and up and property values down and down and down.