A new crop of Los Alamos County Councilors will soon be seated on the dais inside the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The four Democratic candidates who ran for Los Alamos County Council swept the 2022 General Election to earn seats on the dais.
Tuesday, Los Alamos voters elected Theresa Cull, Suzie Havemann and Melanee Hand and re-elected incumbent Randall Ryti to Council.
Their terms begin Jan. 1, 2023.
Unofficial results show that Havemann received 5,404 votes, Cull 5,274, Hand 5,067 and Ryti 5,071.
Results for other council candidates were:
- Libertarian James Wernicke: 3,548 votes
- Republican Sharon Dry: 3,748 votes
- Republican Reginald Page: 2,930 votes
- Republican Gary Stradling: 3,548 votes
Following their victories, the newly elected councilors expressed their appreciation to voters.
Newly elected Councilor Suzie Havemann
“Thank you to everyone who has participated in this process – including a huge ‘Bravo!’ to our County Clerk’s Office staff, election workers, volunteers with our local Democratic Party, and all the candidates on the ballot who stepped up to participate and engage,” Havemann wrote in a column published in the Los Alamos Daily Post. “I look forward to more listening and learning as we all work together to make Los Alamos an even better place to live, work and play.”
In her column to the Los Alamos Daily Post, Cull said she too is appreciative.
“I am so thankful for the support I received in my campaign for County Council from the voters, contributors, and Democratic Party volunteers,” she wrote.
Newly elected Councilor Theresa Cull
“I also appreciate the efforts of the many other volunteers and personnel in our County Clerk’s office … The greatest experience during the campaign was talking to people about their concerns and needs and I look forward to continuing those conversations, and taking actions to address those concerns and needs, over the next four years. I am ready to serve you. Thank you for placing your confidence in me.”
Newly elected Councilor Melanee Hand
Hand wrote in her column to the Los Alamos Daily Post, “It is an honor to be elected to serve alongside new Councilors Suzie Havemann and Theresa Cull and continue serving with Randall Ryti and the current seated Councilors Derkacs, Lepsch, and Reagor. This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I will work to represent you with transparency and boldness as we tackle new challenges and continue to proceed with improvements that make this County such a special place. I hope to improve communications and gain public trust to accomplish great things including smart town growth, support of our businesses, health care, environmental conservation and protection, recreation, and other attractions for citizens and visitors alike.”
Newly re-elected Councilor Randall Ryti
Ryti also shared his thanks in a column published in the Los Alamos Daily Post.
“I am humbled to have been re-elected to continue serving as one of your Los Alamos County Councilors,” Ryti wrote. “I look forward to working with others elected Tuesday night: Theresa Cull, Melanee Hand and Suzie Havemann and those still serving on Council to address our priorities. I heard the priorities of many citizens during the campaign, and I want to continue to hear from you over the next four years.”
