CAMPAIGN POSITION

 

It has been an honor to represent the people of Los Alamos County for the last three years. I have done my best to be a good steward of the resources available to the County and to invest these in the thoughtful improvement of our community. I hope that I can count on your support during my election campaign. Below are the basic principles which have guided me over the last three years, and which I hope I will be privileged to continue to apply.

 

Fact-based policy making – Understand the issues and listen to the community before coming to decisions.

 

Fact-based policy making – One of the things I have learned over the last three years is that our community faces new complex and unpredictable issues on a continuing basis. The most important quality a councilor must have is the ability and work-ethic to delve into new issues, taking the time to understand the underlying trade-offs and listen to the community, experts and county staff, and make a reasoned decision based on all the information that best represents the interest of the overall community. From economic development initiatives, to new projects, to budget review, I have taken this responsibility very seriously, have worked hard to be well prepared, and will continue to do so should I be elected.

 

Transparency and Accountability – Council must represent and engage the community.

 

Transparency and Accountability – A councilor is not only a decision-maker, but also a communication vehicle between the community and government, so that community desires and priorities are furthered within the context of legal, economic and practical constraints. I have been one of the most enthusiastic users of social media to educate and interact with the citizenry. Our community is an active and engaged one, and is eager to better understand and influence the priorities and trade-offs that our councilors have to make. I have been very diligent in explaining the reasoning behind my decisions on council. I began the Los Alamos Vision 2020 Facebook group, which now numbers over 625 members as a way to explain county policy, collect input from citizens and promote civil discussions on issues in our community. I will look to other mechanisms to continue and promote this two-way communication, from being accessible at community events such as the farmer's market to individual responsiveness due to citizen or neighborhood issues.

 

Thoughtful Progress and Infrastructure Improvement – Strategic investments that prepare our community for the future.

 

Thoughtful Progress and Infrastructure Improvements- Even with the ups-and-downs in LANL funding, we still have an enviable financial status compared with most communities. This has permitted us to invest in ourselves to restore infrastructure that was left to degrade over many years, from roads, to public buildings, to civic jewels such as Ashley Pond. I have looked at each such investment with a critical eye, looking at the relative utility vs. cost, and overall, believe we have made appropriate investments. I will look to future investments that take a holistic, strategic view that covers multiple strategic goals, rather than individual investments that are unrelated. One area I will pursue is the development of targeted high-speed internet access along the “spine” of our community including the townsite and White Rock downtowns. This strategic investment has a viable return on investment and not only will promote new business development but also pressure current internet providers to improve service and reliability through renewed competition.

 

Economic Development – A vibrant community depends on a healthy business climate.

 

Economic Development – County-supported projects such as the Trinity Site Revitalization and the new New Mexico Consortium building tell future business investors that Los Alamos County is on a positive trajectory, that we are increasing retail activity and diversifying our economy in a way that builds on our strengths. I strongly believe that the Trinity Site project will be a strong net positive to our community, not only as a model of how public school assets can be used to provide operational funds, but also as a way to retain consumer dollars and change spending habits. These trends will be a catalyst for future development, and we must prepare our development code, housing stock, and transportation network for this future. Moreover, the high likelihood of a new Manhattan Project National Historical Park will greatly increase the tourist traffic in our community, requiring close collaboration with partners to develop the infrastructure, from public safety to transportation to amenities such as hotels and restaurants to support this economic opportunity.

 

Quality-of-Life – Outstanding schools, housing and amenities is how Los Alamos helps LANL recruit superior staff.

 

Quality-of-Life – Los Alamos has been an employment center because of its strong science and technology assets, both in terms of unique facilities as well as world-class staff. In order to attract and retain this staff, we must have a vibrant community with outstanding schools, attractive housing options, and recreational facilities and services that support modern lifestyles and expectations. I will continue to look for ways for our local government to partner with our schools to attract high quality teaching staff, such as affordable housing options for new teachers, and opportunities for additional income for the school district that can be used for operational support.