Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Vote Yes On Amendment Two

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By GEORGE BEST
Common Cause New Mexico Board Member
Los Alamos
 
New Mexico is one of only six states without an ethics commission to hold state officials accountable for any wrongdoing and process complaints from ordinary citizens.
 
Over the past decade there have been many scandals involving state senators, treasurers and public regulation commissioners. The reputation of our state has suffered and, combined with developments at the national level, an attitude of distrust of government has taken hold.
 
But that can change!
 
In November, as voters, we have a chance
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Letter To The Editor: Christine Chandler Will Follow High Standards Set By Jeannette Wallace And Stephanie Garcia Richard

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By ANTONIO MAGGIORE
Los Alamos County Councilor

One of the hardest things about public service as an elected official can be to place the needs of the many over what you as an individual may selfishly want for yourself. Endorsing Christine Chandler is, if I’m being honest, for me one of those decisions.

I want to be clear about this, I have no doubts about Christine Chandler being overwhelmingly the best candidate to represent not only the interests of Los Alamos but all of District 43 as a whole. Why do I know this? I have campaigned against Christine, to refresh your memory I lost the primary to her Read More

Letter To The Editor: Elizabeth Allen Represents A Fresh Vision As Municipal Judge

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By PHILIP GURSKY
Los Alamos

As we reach the end of the 2018 election season, I invite local voters to consider our local Municipal Judge’s election. The current Municipal Judge has long sat in judgment of residents appearing in Municipal Court and been the leader of the direction of municipal justice in our town. It goes without saying that Judge Kirk has put in thousands of hours of service over the last decades and deserves our respect and thanks.

However, in the demanding and changing times in our community and country, to represent the needs and views of an increasingly new and younger community Read More

Letter To The Editor: Sara Scott Will Serve Interests, Well-being Of Our Residents

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By MOLLY CERNICEK
Los Alamos

I have coached Sara Scott’s children in soccer; I am her neighbor; and I have worked with her in LANL’s Russian programs. Sara is approachable, inclusive and makes decisions based on a carefully considered consensus of all stakeholders.

Sara has lived, worked, built friendships, recreated, and raised a family here over the past 30 years. She loves this community and will serve the interests and well-being of its residents.

Join me in supporting Sara Scott for the Los Alamos County Council. Here are others that I know support Sara as well:

Laura and Roy Bohn, Laura and Read More

Letter To The Editor: I Love Lisa

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By VERNON KERR
Former House Dist. 43 representative
White Rock

I really  love Lisa Shin for State Representative, she reminds me so much of Representative Cecelia Rosales from Gallup in McKinley County, the district that she was elected from, and like Lisa, she lit up a room when she entered. She was elected from a Democrat district.

Lisa has a personality that gives entry into conversation and is ready to work out differences when needed, I have found her very bright and she can search out vital information in short order, she has an analytic mind tuned to clarifying issues.

Some people disagree Read More

Letter To The Editor: The Lab, The County, And GRT

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By GEORGE HAGEDORN
Los Alamos

 

I think the county has been looking at the Lab GRT issue as the glass being half empty verses being half full.

If the government would have closed down the Lab after WWII and moved out of town, Los Alamos would most likely now be a one horse town at the end of the road. The major employer would most likely be a seasonal boys ranch. Because the Lab stayed in business the county has over 18,000 population with about 8,000 households and a proportionate number of businesses/commercial properties to service this population.

The population pays sales taxes on the goods Read More

Letter To The Editor: American Association Of University Women Supports Independent Ethics Commission

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By CAROL NEAL and ALAHNA WELLER
AAUW-Los Alamos Co-Facilitators and
Nina Thayer, Public Policy Chair

Constitutional Amendment #2 on the November ballot will provide New Mexico with an independent Ethics Commission. A change in Senate leadership in 2017 allowed the bill creating the commission to come up for vote. It passed both houses of the legislature and now comes before the citizens of New Mexico.

The amendment provides for a 7-member commission: 1 appointed by the governor, 1 appointed by each of the house and senate majority and minority leaders and 2 appointed by the first five, with Read More

Letter To The Editor: I Support Re-Election Of Alan Kirk As Los Alamos Municipal Judge

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By DENNY ERICKSON
Los Alamos

I urge Los Alamos voters to re-elect Alan Kirk as our Municipal Judge.

I do so believing Judge Kirk is the best candidate for this position considering his extensive judicial experience and his well-earned reputation as a community builder. I also appreciate his deep commitment to safe communities demonstrated over a professional lifetime.

We are fortunate in Los Alamos to have had the criminal judicial services of Judge Kirk during the past four decades. For some 20 years, Alan served us as a member of the Los Alamos Police Department, initially as a young officer Read More

Letter To The Editor: Admiration And Respect For House Dist. 43 Candidate Christine Chandler

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By LINDA & PAUL DALY
Los Alamos
 
It is with great admiration and respect that we endorse Christine Chandler as our State Representative for District 43.
 
We’ve found Chris to be not only extremely knowledgeable in legislative matters at the County, State and Federal levels, but also caring and balanced in her dialogue with others who may not share the same point of view. She is a skilled listener who asks questions, lots of them, to fully understand issues. She is laser-focused, sifting through information to arrive at the facts and get to the heart of issues. She is experienced—that
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Letter To The Editor: Possible Big Tax Increase Looms

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By R. WAYNE HARDIE
Los Alamos
 
Lisa Shin opposes Triad National Security LLC paying state gross receipts taxes (GRT). https://ladailypost.comcontent/house-dist-43-candidates-share-their-backgrounds-and-ideas-recent-league-women-voter-forum  
 
According to Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess, this would result in Los Alamos County (LAC) losing $20 million/year, which is 40 percent of its general fund budget! https://www.abqjournal.com/1235462/lanl-tax-status-now-in-question.html
 
Does anyone think that LAC would actually cut
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