Letters to the Editor

By GARY STRADLING
Republican Candidat
Los Alamos County Council

My, my! The Democrat polling folks really have got their apparatus in a panic. How do they sell, business as usual?!”

Dear voters, my campaign is simple. A 40-year vision for a full-spectrum Los Alamos community—not just a LANL bedroom development. 

1. Acquire unused and unneeded DOE land for housing. 
2. Build sufficient housing on that land, for LANL workers, and for community workers for local, full-spectrum, businesses, to bring our local economy into balance. 
3. Sustain access to the vast open spaces around us. 
4. Plan and build

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By STEPHANIE NAKHLEH
Los Alamos

Gary Stradling, Republican candidate for Los Alamos County Council, made some claims in a recent letter that are curious and/or misleading. I’m mostly going to focus on one paragraph, others may choose to look into the rest of the letter.

The 2019 Los Alamos Housing Market Needs Analysis study said that if every opportunity for infill housing were exploited, only 4500 new residential units would be provided. There are reasons for infill developments, but it will be piecemeal, slow, will also impact our existing town environment and infrastructure, and ultimately Read More

By THERESA CULL
Democratic candidate 
Los Alamos County Council

I have been asked by several people to state how I would vote on certain issues (e.g., the Nuisance Code, the Cannabis Ordinance, etc.) if I was elected as your County Councilor.

I hesitate to say how I would vote on an issue, since there are many things to consider before casting a vote. It’s not that I don’t have my personal preferences, but as a County Councilor, I believe it would be my job to listen to and consider everyone’s preferences and the general welfare of the community before I cast a vote.

Like other candidates, I haven’t run Read More

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By PHIL GURSKY
Los Alamos

Los Alamos has assets virtually everyone who lives in Los Alamos highly values: The natural and cultural beauty that surrounds us on the Pajarito Plateau, with our vast outdoor opportunities and recreational and park facilities; and our local School System.

It is of concern to me that Gary Stradling, as the most vocal candidate for County Council pays little notice and, apparently, less concern for the protection and support of these priceless assets. This is to say nothing of the other County utility, solid waste disposal and road infrastructure systems, which will Read More

By JODY BENSON 
Los Alamos

As an elder of Los Alamos, I’ve sat through many (many many) County Council meetings since way back in the day when Council members and the two or three attendees would yell at each other like at a Texas school board meeting—way back before the Council decided to train to become an actually governing body guided by Robert’s Rules of Order that listened to constituents as a representative democracy. 

For the past couple decades, however, we’ve had a pretty great Council that takes time at meetings to allow constituent participation to share in deciding the stunningly complex Read More

By MARK DEVOLDER
Los Alamos

This year I will not be voting in the November election.

One reason is that I have prior commitments and the other reason is simply disgust.

The gubernatorial debate was pretty much a shouting match. There is little more to be said. It is difficult to know what a candidate may or may not do after they are elected. I have heard the traditional advice that it is a good idea to vote for the lesser of two evils. Why does this have to be the only path forward?

Some time ago, I wrote to Christine Chandler about an issue (that is, the low-quality driving habits of New Mexico drivers). I never Read More

By EMILY KLUK
Los Alamos

My name is Emily Kluk and I would like to encourage the voters of Los Alamos County to vote for Suzie Havemann for County Council. 

I have known Suzie for 47 years now and feel that I am well qualified to speak to her tremendous work ethic, integrity, and good character.

Suzie only knows one speed and that is full-speed-ahead. Once she decided to pursue running for Council, she started preparing like crazy by meeting with community leaders, attending county-wide meetings, and going door-to-door to hear from residents about their concerns for Los Alamos and White Rock.

Her Read More

By JEAN DEWART 
Los Alamos

I am voting for Melanee Hand for County Council. 

Melanee is a strong supporter for County public health services, outdoor/open space recreation, and small business – and Melanee is a very hard worker dedicated to our county residents. 

She is knowledgeable of and supports the proposed public health services hub. Melanee has extensive background in County open space issues from her service on the Parks & Rec Board (including serving as chair). And finally, Melanee and her husband Dave Hand run a small business in town – she has good knowledge of what Read More

By STEPHANIE and CHARLIE NAKHLEH
Los Alamos

We first met Randall Ryti when he knocked on our door in 2018, asking for support for his Council run at the time. Sometimes for candidates these door-knocks are very quick, but not when you knock on the door of a Nakhleh house, because we are talkers. We had many questions for him and he cheerfully took the time to chat with us about the issues that concerned us. Neither of us knew anything about him at the time, but we were impressed with him and voting for him was an easy, clear choice.

We’ve been very happy with him since. We’ve seen his professional, mature Read More